LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

PRESENTED BY 



UNITED STATES OP AMEEIOA. 






HISTORICAL SKETCH 



OF Til I, 



TOWN OF RICHMOND, 



FR03I 



1747 to 1876^ 

Comprising a Period of One Hundred and Twenty-ninc Years 



PREPARED BY 



JAMES R. IRISH, D. D. 



AXD 



BELIYEREB JULY 4TH, 1876, 

AT WOOD RIVER GROVE. 



HOPE VALLEY, R.I. : 
L. W. A. COLE, JOB PRINTER, 

^ 1877. 



^ Tl- 



rv 



■^ PREFATORY 



<^ 



To the Honorable, the Town Council of Bichmond. 

Sirs : When your committee invited me to write a his- 
torical paper to be read to the citizens of Richmond, on the 
centennial anniversary day of the nation, the state of my 
health and prior public engagements, forbid my using more 
than a moiety of the few weeks intervening, in gathering 
and arranging the facts to be presented on that occasion. 
This was all the more difficult from my limited acquaintance' 
with the persons and records whence the facts must bo 
gathered. 

Here, I wish to record my sense of obligation to the 
Town Clerk, and other members of the committee, for their 
timely aid in my work. Gratitude is due to the many citi- 
zens on whom I called, for the kindly manner in which they 
welcomed my inquiries, and for the cheerful way in which 
they unlocked, for my use, the stores of their memories and 
the libraries of their records. 



IV 



The first paper was prepared in view of the day and 
the occasion, rather than with a view to its future use. I 
had become so impressed with the defects of its arrange- 
ment; and the limited scope of its included facts, that I 
thought it should be re-tvritten, rather than copied for 
record. I so stated to the Town Clerk on the day of its 
delivery. Although the first paper had been accepted and 
approved by your committee, as a paper to be read, the re- 
writing was determined on. I am, however, impressed with 
a sense of the imperfection of my work, but, such as it is, I 
submit it to you, asking you to reject any portion you may 
disapprove, and I will willingly receive suggestions to alter 
any part where it may be improved. 

I have written no histor}^ of your common schools, be- 
lieving you have already a better history of them than I 
could write. 

I am more than willing you should insert the document 
prepared by Mr. N. K. Church, if due credit be given him 
for his valuable production. 

Yours respectfully, 

J. R. IRISH. 
RoCKViLLE, Dec. 4, 1876. 



HISTORICAL SKETCH 



OF THE 



TOWN OF RICHMOND, R. I. 



The history of this towrij cluriug its settlement, can be 
traced only in connection with the history of Westerly, as it 
was a part of its territory for sixty -nine years after its 
organization. 

Still earlier, the entire area, ironi Narragansett bay to 
Pawcatuck river, and the bay at its mouth (early known as 
little Narragansett) was a subject of controversy, being 
claimed in turn by Connecticut and Massachusetts, in 
opposition to the claim of Rhode Island and Providence 
Plantations. 

According to Wilson's history, Connecticut received, in 
1660, a royal charter embracing the territory from Narragan* 
sett bay and the river, westward to the Pacific ocean. The 
following year, Rhode Island received from the same royal 
authority, a charter extending its limits westward to Narra- 
gansett river, which the King explained as identical with 
Pawcatuck river. 



6 ItrSTORY OF mCIIMOKD. 



The ciuthorities in each colony laid claim to the whole. 
Tliis became a sonn-e oi" much nneasiness during the early 
years of itn occupancy, '^i'he first settlements along the 
isouthern shore \\«'re made )>y adventurers from Rhode 
Island. 

As o(U' family traditions pass it down to us, the first of 
lliese was by b<'roic lovers, who, despite the opposition of 
forbidding parents, committed themselves to each other, 
and the providence of God, and tried the fortunes of the 
wilderness.; Landing on the east side of Pawcatuck river, 
at the mouth of ]\rassatuxet brook, they built themselves a 
wigwam. There they lived in li-iendly intercourse with the 
natives and reared their family. 

This coujjle were .fohn I5abco(;k and Mary Lawton. 
Tiieir first cliild, James Bal)Cock, was the first male white 
child boni ill the Nariagansett territory. From these, sprang 
ilie iiumcrons family of liabcocks, in Westerly and vicinity. 
Wlieii tlicir place of retreat was comnmnicated, by the 
natives, to settlers at Newport, others came and settled 
around tliein. About th(? same time, 1642, a colony from 
( "onn<M'ticut. and others from Massachusetts, settled at Wick- 
iord. As these colonies increased in numbers, jealousies 
ensued, an<l the rival claims of the authorities were pushed 
with a bitterness that threatened disastrous consequences. 
-Vrtful diplomacies on either side, made the controversy only 
m<tre compli<*Hted, till ruptures, arrests and bloodshed brought 
the crisis Ix'fore \\\v Crown. To settle the dispute, a quo 
irarranto was issued hy order of the king, in 1G65. Both 
charters were dissolved and tlie goveniment assumed by the 
King. l>y various foitunes, the settlements progressed, and 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



at length the disputed territory was accorded to the jurisdic- 
tion of Rhode Island. That portion bordering on the oceau 
between Narragansett bay and Pawcatuck ri\^er was denont- 
inated King's county or King's province. 

The western part was originally caUe<l Misquaiuicut. 
While Connecticut held it, she called it Hayershan). 

In May, 1669, it was organized by tlie General Assem- 
bly of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, under the 
name of Westerly, as the fifth town in the colony. Wes- 
terly, as then organized, embraced what is now the four 
towns : Westerly, Charlestown, Richmond and Hop- 

kinton. ' 

« 

On the fourth Tuesday of August, 1738, a town was 
set off, bearing the name : Charlestown. 

The line of division commences where Wood River 
emerges from Exeter, and follows the course of this river to 
where it empties into the Pawcatuck. It then follows the 
course of the Pawcatuck two miles ; thence it runs directly 
south to the open sea.. Population increased quite rapidly 
for a time, and on the third Tuesday of August, (I8th,) 
1747, Richmond was by an Act of the General Assembly 
set off as a separate town. 

The Act authorizing the separation reads as follows : 
^' Be it enacted by the General Assembly, and by the 
authority thereof, it is enacted : That the town of Charles- 
town, in the County of King's county, in the Province of 
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, be divided into 
two towns, by a river that runs across said town, by the 
name of Pawcatuck river. 



8 nrsTORY of Richmond. • 

*' All the lands to the southward of said river^ shall 
r<'tain \\w name ol' Charlestown ; and that; all the land 
to the nortliward of said river^ be^ and hereby is inc3orpor- 
nted into a township^ by the name of llichniond; and to 
have and enjoy tlie likt? privileges as the other towns in this 
colony/' 

The Act fnither made provision for calling a town 
meeting of the freemen of the town for llio appointment of 
ofticerj*; and; generally^ to put in running order the machi- 
nery of a living organization, 

Dnnng the colonial period, and some time after the 
declaration of independence, the elective franchise was 
exercij^ed <»nly by those who had taken the freeman's 
(Mith, 

JMiis oath bound tlie several electors Hgainst 

" UlUBEUY AND COKRUrTION." 

It was further required, that any man proposing to be- 
come a freeman, should have his name propounded at a town 
meeting previous to taking the oath, in order that if required, 
he might show proof of a clean record. The records of the 
colonial legislature show that he should also be propounded 
before the General Assembly. 

Though tlnj! formula of this oath has passed away, it 
Were well if the sons of these venerable fathers should, for 
a centennial vow, revive the spirit of that political stiindard, 
so that " bribery and corruption " shall henceforth rank in 
the ])ublic conscience with mendacity, perjury, treason, and 
other base and venal crimes. 

Young men of Uichmond, lend me your ears ! As you 
\ aluc the institutions of a free republic, and as you would 



HISTORY OF lacinioND. 9 



transmit tlieni unsullied to posterity, clierisli and maintain 
the piiritij of tlie halJot box. When freemen cany their votes 
into the pnhlic mart, to he l)onglit and sohl as merehandise, 
fliey have sapped the very foundations of true h'berty, and 
opened the flood gates of every villainous and corrupt prac- 
tice. Scarce a greater insult could he offered to a virtuous 
{)atnot, than to proffer a jjr/cc for Jfis rote. Give to such 
panderers for political favor a wide berth and let them know 
tliat they shall have the reward that such servility deserves. 
AVe shall worthily hail the remniscences that our Centen- 
nial affords, only as we cull from the deeds of our fathers 
siudi fruit' as shall add to our own love of that which is 
excellent and praiseworthy. Let us so use the garnered 
virtues of the past, that, transplanted to the garden of the 
future, posterity may gather rich fruitage, made thirt\', sixty 
or an hundred f(dd more strand and noble 1)V the hio-h van- 
tage ground which a new century, with its increased fsicili- 
ties, may impart. To ascribe to them thc^ meed that is their 
due, we must take a gauge of the impediments that they 
must needs surmount. Without the benefits of pioneer 
experience, they, with meager facilities, subdued a forest 
wilderness, in the face of a treacherous foe, whose rights 
thev little understood. Thev found a climate more riirorous 
than that to which they were accustomed. They had almost 
no help from the skilled appliances of machinery. The 
doctrine of equal rights was so little understood, that untold 
losses sprang from the selfish greed that so often provoked 
retaliation on the part of those whose rights were encroached. 
AVars not only wasted their resources, T)ut cut off the oppor- 
tunities of resource. 
2 



10 HISTORT OF RICHMOND. 



With such hindrances to encounter^ we wonder that 
they achieved so much. Upon our vantage ground it be- 
comes us to raise higher the standard, and develop and ex- 
emplifiy a nobler patriotism, a more refined cultivation, a 
broader citizensliip, a purer Christianity, and a richer g'race 
than has come down to us from the straits of the past. 

The histor\^ of Richmond strictly begins with its in- 
corporation as a town. There are, however, materials out 
of which that history is in part formed, that call us to re- 
count some events that come from an earlier date. 

As one of the moving impulses, and perhaps the most 
moving that prompted our fathers to leave the lands tliat 
gave them birth, to find an abode in the wilderness, was the 
hope of " freedom to worship God," we may, with propriety 
inquire, first, after the history of religion in this town. 



THE CHURCHES. 



How early societies, or churches, were formed in the 
town, no record shows. Sure it is, that the earliest records 
known, give account of churches, or societies, existing- and 
acting as perennial organizations. 

The first of these was the Wood River or Six-Princi- 
ple Baptist church, of Richmond. Its earliest known record 
dates A. D. 1723, when the}^ called Daniel Averitt, of 
Providence, to be their minister. He accepted the call and 
soon moved among them, but was not ordained as pastoy 
until May 25^ 173,2. h\ 1733, two deacons were appointed, 
and another in 1735. 

From this date there is a break in the records till 1770, 
when John Pendleton was chosen pastor. Subsequentlv, 
this church enjoyed the pastoral labors of Elders Henry 
Joslin, from 1788 to 1806; Joseph James, from 1810 a 
number of years, when, through the infirmities of age, ho 
was unable to serve them. For some years previous to 
1833, Elders William Manchester, John Gardiner, Pardon 
Tillinghast and Thomas Tillinghast, were ministerial sup- 
plies, rather as evangelists than pastors. At the last date, 



12 HISTORY OF EICHMOKD. 

Elder Thomas TillingliaHt was clioscn pastor, who served 
them with great acceptance for twenty-nine years, when, in 
consequence of growing infirmities and age, he asked a 
release from the pastoral care, and his son, Gilbert Tilling- 
hast, was chosen to that charge, in which he has served to 
the present time. Tliis church has been blessed witli a suc- 
cession of faithful deacons, and many active members, by 
wlioni the liands of the pastors have been held up, and their 
joint labors have done much to mold the opinions and 
character of the men of the town. Their seasons of wor- 
ship have been characterized as peculiarly social, as com- 
pared with the worship of many other congregations. Tliey 
have retained more of the style and manner of past genera- 
tions than most other churches. The old fashioned religion, 
and the old forms of expressing the emotional eleuients of 
religious experience, find favor with them, especially in 
their covenant meetings. 

The first house of worship, built by this church, was 
probably erected on the lot now occupied by said church. 
The deed of said lot bears date and is recorded in the town 
records as follows : '^ In the year of our Sovereign Lord, 
George the Third," Nov. 13, 1769. For the sum of two 
pounds paid to the husband, and five shillings paid to the 
wife, William, and Hannah Kenyon his wife, deeded to 
Benjamin Barber, Stephen Wilcox, Thomas Kenyon, John 
Tefft, and William TefFt, of Richmond, Nathan Barber and 
Robert Kenyon, of Hopkinton, members of the Society of 
Baptists, in Richmond, holding the six principles mentioned 
in Hebrews, vi:l, one acre of land in trust for said society, 
and their successors, to erect such buildings thereon " as 



IILSTOIIY OF UlCHMOXI). 13 



tliey shall doem proper/' etc. Additions to tlie lot liave 
since been made for cemetery, etc. 

The first house of worship huilt in town, is supposed to 
have been pnt up by the Quakers, on a lot containing one 
acre, deeded in the second month, 28th day, A. 1). 1755, by 
John Knowles, to Solomon Hoxsie, Stephen Hoxsie, John 
Collins, Jr., Simeon Tucker, Jr., and John Knowles, Jr., in 
consideration of ten pounds, New England currency, old 
tenor, as a meeting house lot, and for a burying ground. 
The house of worship seems to have been begun before the 
deed was ffiven, as we find bv the record of the monthly 
meetino- held the first of the seventh month, 1754. An 
additit)n was reported " to the subscription for the meeting 
house that is building in Richmond, of c€51 5s. Friends 
appointed to carry on said building report, that they have 
laid out the money subscribed, and that there is yet wanting 
of the supposed cost .€260, which we recommend to the 
notice of the next quarterly meeting." These monthly 
meetings included with Richmond, South Kingstown and 
Westerly ; Hopkinton not having yet been set off from 
Westerly. How early meetings of worship were held by 
the Quakers in this town, is not known, but tradition says, 
long before the records in the monthly meeting. 

The first monthly meeting recorded was held the third 
month and 30tli day, 1743. From a portion of the record 
it is supposed the habit of keeping continuous records had 
not been previously adopted. That note reads as follows : 
^^ This meeting, deeming it needful to have books provided 
to keep the records for the recording of the minutes of this 
meeting, and also marriages, and deaths, and births, this 



14 HISTORY OF KlCHMOXtJ. 

meeting do appoint Peter Davis to provide paper and put if 
in order. No further bnsinesft at prescnit. This meeting 
ended.'^ 

The firf?'t reco'rd of the women's preparative; or monthly 
meeting, bears even date with the above. Botli records 
show a Watchful and loving care of the members lor each 
other, and a faithful and jealous care for the honor of 
religion, and the virtue and puiitv of the society. Their 
rebukes of delinquent member^*, while kind, were Urm. 
Their witness against the wrongs of society, whether popular 
or unpopular, were such as to give great power to their influ- 
ence on the public mind. The barberous persecutions wdiich 
thej^ received from professed religionists of other sects, may 
be an apology for the exclusivenet^s they practiced towards 
all outside worshippers. Hemovals and deaths seem t«) 
have thinned their numbers in the section around their house 
of worship in this town, and it was eventually given up as 
a place of worship. The last meeting held in it was a 
funeral sometime in August 1844; ninety years from the 
time of its erection. The guard thrown around the marriage 
institution l)y this denomination, is worthy of honorable 
mention, and if those principles were somehow interwoven 
in our statute regulations and carried out in the social 
relations of society, our land would be greatly benefited, 
and the future less reproach than the present generation by 
divorces. 

A record of their order, in the preliminaries and rite of 
man-iage, may be new and interesting to man}^ of our citi- 
J'.ens, and as this may ho. most intelligently shown by the 
details of an example, I take this method. The exami)le 1 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 15 



select is the marriag-e of a pair of lu y ancestors, but it <loes 
not differ materially from others in the record. 

"At the monthly meeting ye 25th of ye 3d month, 1753, 
Job Irish, son of Jedediah of Westerl^^, and Mary Weaver 
daughter of Thomas Weaver late of Westerly' deceased, 
laid their intentions of taking each other in marriage before 
the meeting. This meeting desires them to wait at the next 
monthly meeting for their answer. This meeting appoints 
our friends Simeon Tucker and Thomas Wilbur to enquire 
into the conversation and clearness as to marriage, and make 
returns to the next monthly meeting. 

'^ At ' the monthly meeting held the 30th of the 4th 
month, 1753, the friends that were appointed to inspect into 
the conversation and clearness of Job Irish concerning mar- 
riage, make return that they find nothing to hinder his pro- 
ceeding therein. Job Irish and Mary Weaver appeared in 
this meetino- and sio-nified thev were of the same mind thev 

CD Cj M, ft. 

were at the last monthlv meetin<>\ and desire an answer. 
This meeting permits them to marr}'' among us, they keep- 
ing to the good order of truth therein James Scriven and 
Peter Davis, Jr., are appointed to see their marriage consum- 
mated and make returns thereof to the next monthlv 
meeting. 



" At a monthly meeting, held at South Kingstown the 
28tli of the 5th mo., 1753, the friends that were appointed 
to see the marriage of Job Irish and Mary Weaver consum- 
mated, make return that it was quite orderly carried on." 

The consummation of said marriao-e is recorded as 
follows : 



16 niSTORT OF PtTCHMOXD. 



^' AVliereas, Job Irish, son of Jedcdiali Irisli anJ Mary 
liis wilV of Westerly in King's County and Colony of Jlliodc 
Island^ and 3fary Weaver daughter of Thomas Weaver 
late deceased and Sarah his Avife of the town ahove saiil^ 
having declared their intention of taking each other in mar- 
riagCj before several public meetings of the people called 
Quakers, in the Colony aforesaid, whose proceedings tlierein, 
after a delilxMate consideration thereof, according to the 
righteous law of (Jod, and exani[)Ie of his people, recorded 
in the Scriptures of truth in that case, they being clear of 
all others, and having consent of parents, and others con- 
cerned, were a[)proved by the said meetings : Therefore, 
These n>ay certify all whom it may concern, That they, the 
said Job Irish and Mary Weaver, appeared in a public 
meeting of the aforesaid people and others, met together for 
that purpose at one of their meeting houses, this third day 
i>f the fifth montli called May, and in the year of our Lord 
one thousand seven hundred and fifty three. He the sd. 
Job Irish, taking the sd. 3[ary Weaver by the hand, did 
openly declare as follows: Friends, I desire yon to be my 
witnesses that I take this my friend Mary AVeaver to be 
mv wife, promising through the Lord's assistance to be unto 
her a loving and faithful husband until it shall j)lease Cod 
by death to separate us. And she the said Mary Weaver 
•lid then in like manner openly declare: Friends I desire 
you to be my Avitness that I take this my friend Job Irish to 
be my husband, promising through the Lord's assistance to 
l)e unto him a faithful and loving wife until it shall please 
the Lord by death to separate us. And they the said Job 
Irish and Mary Weaver, f<n' the full accomplishment of 



HlSTOllY OF RICHMOND. 17 



their said marria^ and subscription, have hereunto set their 
liands, she according to the custom, now Mary Irish, and we 
whose names are hereunto subscribed, being present with 
others at the solemnizing of this tlieir said marriage, and 
subscription, have as witnesses also to these presents sub- 
scribed our names, the day and year above written. 

Job Irish, 

Mary Irish. 
Martha Hoxsie, Peter Davis, 
Jedediah Irish, Sarah Irish, 

Mary Hoxsie, James Scriven, 

• Alice Weaver, Mary Weaver, 

Joseph Irish, George Irish,'' 

and seventeen others, as witnesses. 

In the southeast part of the town a church existed quite 
early, some of whose members resided in the adjoining 
towns. Near what has long been known as John Stanton's 
corners, they erected a house of worship on a lot of laud 
containing half an acre, deeded December 13th, 1787, by 
Perry Watson and wife, for one pound and ten shillings, to 
Charles Boss, David Clark, Gideon Babcock, and others, 
for a meeting house lot. This house was known as the Boss 
meeting house. The name was derived from Elder Boss, 
whose name comes down to us as one who long and faitli- 
fully served God and the people there as a preacher of the 
gospel. The church continued to worship there till 1856, 
when they built a house at Clark's mills and removed there ; 
the new house being on the Charlestown side of the river. 
This church is now and probably always was connected with 
the Association Baptist churches. 

In the eastern part of the town, we learn from Deni- 

son's history, another church existed, many of its members 
3 ' 



IS HISTOKY OF KICHMOXD. 

living in South Kingstown, to the watch-care of which Ekler 
Benjamin Barber was ordained in 1793. From other sources 
we learn that Elder Phineas Palmer ministered to this body 
until the time of his death. They built no house of worship 
l>ut held their meetings mostly in private houses, some of 
which were held at kSilas Moore's, where David Moore now 
lives. After the death of Elder Palmer, the church ceased 
to maintain its organization, some of its members uniting 
with other churches. 

At Wood vi He, a church was erected on a lot of land 
deeded December 9tli, 1848, by Fones G. Wilbur for the 
good will he bore to the church and the cause of piety, to 
Jesse Wilbur, Jr., Treasurer of the Seventh Day Baptist 
church, of Richmond, and his successors in office. This 
church has, at times, been affected by changes in the manu- 
facturing interest in Woodville, but, of late, has enjoyed 
renewed prosperity, and seems to be an active force in the 
religious interests of the community. Its present pastor is 
the Rev. Horace Stillman ; its first was Rev. John Green. 
In Arcadia, November 24th, 1872, a hall erected by D. 
L. Aldrich & Co. over their store, was dedicated to public 
worship and social improvement. Religious services, and a 
Sunday school, have been maintained there most of the 
time since, on Sunday, and at such other times as the inter- 
est of the people seemed to demand. No church has been 
organized there. Churches existing on the borders of the 
town, have had their part in molding the religious and social 
character of the town, and ministers residing in adjacent 
towns have from time to time labored effectively to build up 



HISTORY OF IlICHMOND. 19 

religions interests, and establish in the minds and lives of 
the people, principles of loyalty to God and truth. 

At Clarke's Mills, an Advent society or church was or- 
ganized about 1855, with members from the adjacent towns 
as well as Richmond. Its meetings, which were, at first, 
held in this town, have been transferred to a hall on the 
Oliarlestown side of the stream. Simeon P. Clarke, the 
|)ropriet()r of the mills, is an honored member of the society. 
To it, with the other churches along the borders, must bo 
attributed a share in the responsibilities of guiding the minds 
of the young in tlieir search for the knowledge of God ancj 
eternal life. 

As religion lias furnished in these several organizations 
centers of attractions and fountains of refined emotional 
pleasures, so throngh them it has wrought a more or less 
healthful influence on the social life of the generations that 
have passed on the stage of action since the first settlements 
were made in the " waste, howling wilderness." Among the 
chnrches whose places of worship were in the adjoining- 
towns, and whose influence has reached into this town, may 
be mentioned a church in South Kingstown, near Usque- 
paug, a Free Baptist church at Carolina, the Seventh Day 
Baptist churches in Hopkinton, the Association Baptist 
and the Methodist and Advent churches at Locustville, on 
the Hopkinton side of the river opposite to Wyomino-. 



EDUCATION. 



The report of your Superinteiulent^ N. K. ClnircL^ 
made the year ending April SOtli last, is a better history of 
seliools for tins town, since its settlement, than I could com- 
pile, and I should be pleased if the committee would incor- 
j)orate that report with what I submit. The oidy item I 
will attempt to add is the fact of my own experience as a 
teacher in this town. That experience was in the winter of 
1828 and '29, and was my first attempt at teaching. The 
school was held in a part of an old house still standing on 
the estate then owned by Samuel Clarke, Esq. Dyer Smith 
lived in the same house at the time. Reminiscences of the 
school are still pleasant. I have since taught more than 
fifty terms, in schools of different grades, very few of which 
bring back fewer regrets, and more pleasures, than come on 
the wino-s of memorv from that three months. 

Among the pupils whose names, and countenances, 
come up from that far past are : Abiel and Elijah Kenyon 
and their sisters. Perry Clarke, Jr., Charles and Simeon P. 
Clarke, Mary Clarke now Lawrence, Daniel Marchant, 
Harriet Staunton, John S. Charke and his sister, now the 



HISTORY OF RICHMOXD. 21 



widow of Charles Clarke, and Mrs. Irish and her sister 
IMrs. H. 1\ Clarke. 

Twenty-four days then eonstituted a month's serAice, 
and the teacher boarded around. The contract bound the 
patrons to pay me $8.50 per month. At the close of the 
school, they assembled and by a unanimous vote directed 
me to make out the rate bill for $9.00 per month. T<j this 
new order I yielded with as much condescension as I well 
could. 

Besides the regular day schools, evening spelling schools 
were a part of the programme. These were attended by 
teachers and pupils from schools in Charlestown. Their 
courtesy was reciprocated by a like attendance at their 
schools. 

The system of "boarding around," now so generally 
condemned, had peculiar advantages for acquaintance with 
the patrons, and winning their sympathy and moral support 
of the school. It also gave additional opportunity of aiding 
the pupils in their lessons, and finding out and relieving 
their difficulty with some of the abstruse parts of their 
studies. 

Though the State had taken incipient steps for free 
schools, tlie act had not yet come into working order. 

Your town records will show you sad evidence of how 
much need there was of a public school system. A very 
large share of the deeds and other conveyances recorded in 
the earl}^ books are subscribed by the mark of the indivi- 
duals instead of their written names. This especially was 
true of the females who signed, or witnessed those convev- 



22 HISTORY OF JlICHMO:SD. 



ances. Even now^ with all our school facilities, many, alas ! 
too many; are embarrassed >vith the same lack of knowledge. 
Scores of chiklren are growing np in ignorance of the first 
principles of education. Town Councils and school officers 
should look this matter in the face, and see that the cupidity 
of parents and mill owners is not depriving cliiWrenof tliose 
privilege's furnished by State munificence for tlieir present 
and future good^ and the safety of the 8tate. The intelli- 
gence and virtue of the individual is the bulwark of future 
safety for the republic. 

In the colonial period, disadvantages by reason of a 
lack of education, went further than the embaiTassments to 
which we have referred. Parents who had n<»t themselves 
learned to read and write, could do very little to aid their 
children in acquiring even the first rudiments of knowledge. 
This was the more unfortunate from the fact that the few 
schools that existed were often, on account of the sparseness 
of the population, practically impossible to be enjoyed l)y 
many who lived miles away from the school. 3Iy father 
spent his bo^diood in Richmond, from seven yeai's of age to 
fifteen, and his only opportunity for school during that time, 
if my memory is coiTcct, was less than three months, and 
then by threading his Avay through bye-paths for more than 
two miles. If such were their meager facilities in the last 
(piarter of the past century, what were they in the second 
and third quarters of that century ? 

Thus stinted in their facilities for learning to read and 
write and compute numbers, they could poorly appreciate 
the benefits to be derived from periodicals and books, even 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 23 



if tlie\^ had possessed tlieiii. These could not even be ob- 
tained by those capable of reading, for books were few, 
and costly, and the newspaper was as yet unborn in the 
State. Social life, undoubtedly, was enjoyed in its spirit, 
but it must have lacked much of its legitimate power to- 
ward elevating the mind and aims of the people, and refining 
their habits of life. As might be expected, as the outgrowth 
of minds thus fettered, their implements of husbandry, and 
methods of farming, were rude and primitive, adding much 
to tlie labor of production. 



AGRICULTURE, ETC. 



Oxen were cliieii}^ their team oi draft and all \\ork, 
the horse bein"* less serviceable from the fact that waci'oiis 
were almost unknown. ]\Ien now living can rememl>er when 
the "Lockshire'' w'as the only plow for principal work, but 
that was the successor to others still more rude, awkward 
and defective. The Lockshire was followed 'by the Dutch 
plow. This in turn gave place to the cast iron ploAV which 
V)egan to be introduced about 1820 and for a long time was 
used only by a few. Whether now, polished steel plows 
have been introduced into Richmond, I am not inf(mned. 
They are the sine qxa uon of the west, and Richmond will 
not be long without them. 

Locomotive conveyances for persons and produce, in 
those early times, were quite primitive. The lover and liis 
lass, when out for a pleasure ride, must needs have separate 
horses, the latter upon her side-saddle, or placed on a pillion 
upon the same horse with her beau, supported in place with 
one arm parti}" encircling the body, and her left hand rest- 
on the iron hoop of the pillion. The first one horse wagon 
introduced into the town, is said to have been imported from 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 25 



Connecticut by Mr. George Perry, the grandfatlier of Hon. 
H. P. Clarke. The exact form of this one I am not able 
to give, hut probably it was much the same as those in use 
at my early recollection, being a frame body with high sides 
attached to the forward axle by a jointed snipe-bill for a 
king-bolt. These, for the most pait, had no springs either 
under the body or the seat. Tlie latter was at first a box 
with an elevated back ; the box sometimes elevated at the 
bottom and resting on the floor of the body, sometimes with 
a long wooden spring extending the entire length of the 
body, resting on slats at the end-l»oard ; seats resting on 
In-aces, with more or less spring, bolted to sills detached 
from the bod}^ but resting on its floor. These were known 
as grasshopper seats. 

Elliptical steel springs were a later invention, having 
been preceded by the chaise with leathern thorough-brace 
springs. Before the introduction of one horse wagons, mar- 
keting was done by carrying light burdens on horseback, in 
))ags or baskets. Sometimes a sort of dray was extempor- 
ized, consisting of two poles placed as thills to the rings of 
the harness, and extending back and resting on the ground. 
These were kept at a propi^r distance from each otlier, by 
cross boards, pinned or bolted upon the top, and on which 
the burden was laid and held in place by cords or withes. 
In this way, Hon. Gardner Nichols informed me, that his 
father transported two Lockshire plows from eight miles 
beyond Wick ford. 

The venerable Simon Lillibridge, upwards of ninety 
years old, informed me that one of his fathei^'s neighbors 
contracted to deliver a dressed hog at AVickford, which 



26 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



weighed about three hundred pounds. He did not wish to 
drive his oxen so far^ and as there was not a one horse wagon 
within eight or ten miles^ he loaded his hog upon the back 
of his liorse, and walked by his side to the market^ some 
fourteen miles. 

Country stores were not then in the habit of receiving 
farm produce in exchange for merchandise, and each man 
marketed his own. If not wanted near home, it was car- 
ried usually to Newport or to Wickford. Mr. Lillibridge 
says the first wagon he ever saw was at Plainfield at "a 
schoolbreak. The first he ever owned was made by Rowsc 
Clarke. This Rowse Clarke had a wagon shop a little west 
of Shannock hill, near w'here Remington Clarke had a 
trip-hammer, blacksmith shop on Tony brook, a small 
stream a little west of Richard Chappell's. I have been 
thus minute both to give a proper idea of the facts as then 
existing, and also that those enjoying the facilities of the 
present day may more fully realize the great advantages they 
possess, and the consequent increase of obligation. 

Men of such limited means of culture might be ex- 
pected to suffer in other departments of social relations than 
those we have noted, and such we find to have been the fact 
in the early parts of Richmond's history. Rights, inherent 
in the nature of man, seem to have been imperfectly under- 
stood, and poorly carried out, except upon the narrow view 
of onesided self. 

View's of the rights of others were so imperfectly de- 
veloped as scarcely to reach the low- level of toleration for 
free thought in the economy of society. Au}^ innovation on 
existing forms of thought and standards of action, often was 



HISTORY OF IIICHMOND. 27 



met, not by the question : What is right ? but : What has 
been the practice? People who coukl leave the cherished 
associations of home and kindred, and plow the billows of 
the Atlantic, and face the hardships of a wilderness, and all 
the privations of pioneer life, for freedom, and to shake off 
the yoke of oppression, were slow to learn the doctrine that 
'■'(jour rights are as sacred as mmc/^ or that f/oa have the 
same right to differ from me that I have from i/ou. Low 
views of duty in regard to personal example were often 
entertained. Revivals of religion occurred at long interv^als 
for the most part, and in those intervals coarse manners and 
vulgar habits supervened. Mr. Lillibridge says that in his 
early days profane swearing was very common, but religious 
influence revived, and the vicious habit gave way before the 
radience of Divine light. 

With some, it is a matter of wonder how the people of 
this section subsisted, while as yet they had little or no 
income from manufactures and commerce. In attempting to 
solve the question, it must be remembered that while they 
were reducino- a rusfiifed wilderness to cultivation, thev had a 
virgin soil from which to gather their crops. The forests 
that had stood for ages had been shaking down, j^ear by 
year, their foilage to fertilize the soil. Insects seldom made 
depredation upon their vegetation. The seed sown had in 
the soil just the material on which to feed and mature with 
an abundant harvest. Surrounded bv shelterino* woodlands, 
their plantations suffered less from the tossings of chilling 
winds. What was of still greater importance, the habits of 
men, both as regards labor and expenses, Avere vastly dif- 
ferent. Men, women and children were mostly accustomed 



28 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



to rise with the dawn, and continue their toil till twilight. 
Though they reared large families, they were early trained 
to toil. They lived plainly on food of their own production. 
Their clothing, too, w^as of the cheapest and most durable 
texture. Their fields of flax, and the fleeces of their flocks, 
furnished the fiber, and the mothers and daughters spun and 
wove it. Play and pleasure were entirely secondary to 
the necessities of life. Parsimony was more popular than 
prodigality. All were restrained in their indulgences by 
provision for their wants. 

Here it may be asked, if Richmond was once so pro- 
ductive : First, Wln^ did it liot continue thus to produce 1 
and : Second, Is it possible for its barren plains ever to re- 
cover the fertility that tradition gives them the credit of 
once possessing ! 

To the first of these questions we reply that the history 
of the past will discover a combination of causes lending aid 
to the result. Among these we may mention that the farm- 
ers of those early days poorly understood, or unwiseh^ disre- 
garded, the fact that every crop carried from the field, car- 
ries a definite proportion of its material, essential for the 
production of a crop of that kind, and hence continued 
cropping of any field will eventually remove its entire 
capacity to produce successful crops, unless from some source 
similar material be returned to the soil of that field. 



CHARACTERISTICS. 



It has alreacty lieen noticed tliat Richmond was made 
a town in 1747. The first Town Meeting was held August 
28th, ten days after the act of incorporation. 

'' Captain Richard Bailey was chosen Moderator. 

" James Adams and Stephen Richmond were chosen to 
receive the votes put in at this town meeting. 

'' John Webster was chosen Town Clerk for the re- 
mainder of the vear, and eno^ae-ed. 

''Voted, That John Webster, Capt. Richard Bailey, 
Joseph Hoxsie, James Adams, William Potter and Joseph 
Clarke are chosen the six Town Councilmen for the 
remainder of the year, and engaged. 

'' Voted, That Joseph Enos be chosen Treasurer for 
the remainder of the year." 

The minor officers for the town were elected much in 
the same order as at the present day. 

Capt. Richard Bailey and John Webster were chosen 
Deputies to attend the General Assembly to be held in 
King's county on the last Wednesday in October. 



30 HISTORY OF R1CHM0]?JD. 



Whether tlie Town Ooiiiicil were disposed to make 
their office unnecessarily burdensome to the town^ or whether 
a penurious jealousy sprang up aniong the freen>en^ it is? 
difficult now to say. The action of a town meetings only a 
lew years after organization^ shows that piditical servants 
were disposed to he fed at the puhlic crib more than the 
people were willing to ratify. The following was passed an 
an act of the Town Meeting : 

*^ Whereas^ The Town Council of this to^wn has been a 
considerable charge to the town for their meeting together 
on the business of said toAvn, for a remedy whereof for the 
future : 

" Be it enacted by said tow n^ That from and after the 
iirst Tuesday in June next ensuing^ That said Town Coun- 
cil bear their own expenses for the future." 

The French and Indian war soon followed. The man- 
ner in which the town met the exigency will appear from 
their action in Town Meeting, held on the 3d day of 
November, 1756, as follows : 

" Be it enacted in the Town of Richmond, by the 
freemen and freeholders thereof. That if any man or men 
be pressed as above said, and is unwilling to go in His 
Majesty's service, That then the inhabitants of the town 
shall forthwitli hire some-able bodied man, or men, to go in 
his or their room, or rooms, or jjay the ransom for the im- 
pressed man, or men; and the ransom or hired man or men 
shall be paid by a public town rate to be assessed on the 
Inhabitants of this town of Richmond in proportion accord- 
ing to their ratable estates now stated by the (?olony afore- 
said, except the j)ole money. 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 31 



^^ And be it further enacted by the freemen and free- 
hoklers of this town of Richmond, that all the mone\- raised 
and promised to pay the volunteers, and those pressed, or 
drawn, or raised in this town of Richmond by a special act 
of the General Assembly of the colony aforesaid, to be 
raised on the 21st day of October last past, the said money 
shall be repaid unto every man, or men, that has paid or 
lent money unto the above said soldiers as a bounty or en- 
couragement to enlist. 

'''■ And be it further enacted, That the aforesaid money 
shall be repaid by a public town rate to be assessed on the 
inhabitants of this town of Richmond, in proportion accord- 
ing to their ratable estates now stated by an act of the 

colon V. 

•- • 

" And be it further enacted by the freemen and free- 
holders of the town of Richmond, That all the officers that 
are or shall be elected as ratemakers, or assessors, or collec- 
tors, treasurers or other officers, in executing any part, or 
parts, of the aforesaid act, or acts, shall have no fee or pay 
for their labor or trouble, but shall do it for nothing. 

^^ And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, 
That every person that shall be rated for the charge afore- 
said, shall bring in his proportion of said rate to the Town 
Treasurer of said Richmond, at, or before the 7th day of 
December next. And if any person, or persons, shall 
neglect to bring in his or their rate, as above said, That the 
Town Treasurer of said Richmond grant forth his warrant 
to distrain so much of his, or their, goods and chattels as 
will pay their respective rates." 



32 HISTORY OF KICHMOXD. 

The patriotism thus displayed in relation to the Freneli 
and Indian war, was but a prelude to a readier and more 
self-sacrificing consecration in the war of the revolution, as 
will he seen hy the record. 

At the last Town Meeting under colonial anthority. 
held June 4thj 1776, one month previous to tl»e declaration 
of independence^ we find the first record of warlike measures 
made by this town tow^ard the war of the revolution. /JMiat 
record says : 

'^Joseph Woodmancy, Jonathan Maxson, John Chirke, 
Samuel Clarke, Samuel Staunton, William Kenyon, Tlios. 
Lillibride, Richard Bailey, Jr., Joseph AVoodmancy, Jr., 
and Nicholas Mosher, have agreed to give one day each 
towards making the town's lead and powder into cartouches." 

Again : * 

" Voted, That Caleb Barber have an order to the Treas- 
rU'er for tln-ee shillings, it being for a box of cartouches.'' 

The next Town Meeting was held August 27th, 1775, 
A\hen the town enrolled itself as Richmond in King's county, 

* ♦ - * 

: STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, .' 
* - - * 

thus indorsing the Declaration of Independence made 
July 4th, previous. 

This meeting ordered that their "old schedules made 
before the revisal of the late law's, be used to tlie making 
of cartouches." It was also 

" Voted, That Capt. Joseph TefFt, Jr., and Capt. David 
Potter be a committee to receive of the State the town's 
proportion of salt, and bring it into town." 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



At ii Town Meeting held September 16th, 1776, it 
was 

'' Voted, That the soUliers ordered to be raised in this 
town, by the committee appointed to act during the recess 
of the GenerqJ Assembly, have their wages advanced to 
three shillings per dav, incl tiding what is paid them by the 
government, which shall enlist into the service. 

" Voted, That captains of the companies in this town be, 
and are hereby directed to call their respective companies 
together according to the alarin list, at one or more places 
on the 19th instant, in order to raise the above mentioned 
troops.. 

" Voted, On the 20th of September, That Major Rich- 
ard Bailey and Samuel Clarke be appointed a committee to 
receive of Wm. Tefft, Esq., twenty-one guns, bayonets and 
cartouch boxes, and deliver them to the soldiers raised in 
this town, and that the same be branded with the letter R 
l)efore deliver^^ 

'^ And that tlic}^ also b(? directed to receive of the said 
AVilliam TefFt the remainder of the guns, &c., when finished, 
giving, their receipts for the same, * * * and that said com- 
mittee furnish the ensign and each soldier with a blanket 
and ^snapsack'; * * * and that everv soldier furnishins" 
himself with a blanket and ^snapsack' shall be allowed six 
shillings therefor. 

^' Voted, That if there is not a sufficient sum of money 
in the treasury to procure the above blankets, &c., the treas- 
urer be authorized to hire a sufficient sum for that purpose. 

" Voted, That Captain Maxson be allowed one shilling 
per day for three months if not discharged sooner." 



HISTORY OF KICHMOXD. 



At a Town Meeting held November 29tli, 1776, it 
was 

'' Voted, That this town give each soklier, now to be 
raised, one shilling per day over and above the State's pay, 
as an encouragement for their enlistment, during the time 
they are in service. 

" That William TefFt, Esq., be a committee to act in 
conjunction with the Committee of Safety in the equipping 
of the soldiers now to be raised." 

December 3d, 1776, Town Meeting^ 

^' Voted, That the Treasurer be directed to hire sixty- 
three pounds to pay the soldiers now at Rhode Island th'^ 
town's advance money to them by their return. 

^' Voted, That Richard Baile}^ have an order of seven 
pounds, four shillings, it being for Idankets for the sol- 
diers." 

While the freemen and freeholders showed their readi- 
ness to tax themselves to meet the demands of their coun- 
try in the hour of its trial, the young men, and the patriots 
of middle life, entered the ranks of the militia, as minute 
men, to answer any call that a new phase of danger might 
demand ; or, with still greater sacrifice, thrust themselves 
away from home and its endearments, to endure the fatigue 
and sufferings of camp life in the field forces of the revolu- 
tion. Camp life then was no holiday sport, as pictured by 
the historians of these davs. Thev endured lonsf and 
fatiguing marches with scanty food, and still more scant 
clothing ; sometimes marching over the snow and frozen 
ground, which they trod with the blood trickling from their 
chilled and wounded feet. This thev endured while the 



HISTORY OF RICHMOXD. 3d 

wages were low, and often uncertain, from which to forward 
supplies to their need}" families. Nor were our mothers and 
their daughters wanting of faith, and the true spirit of con- 
secration, in those times. The}^ gave their sons, brothers, 
and lovers, words of blessing and words of cheer as they 
sent them forth to stand in the gap of their country's peril. 
They stood not in passive idleness to await the result, or to 
depend on the strong arm of their sons and brothers for sup- 
port. In the eloquent language of Rev. F. Denison : 

'•' While the men were in camp and in battle, the women 
managed the home affairs. They not only turned their 
(earnest hands to the distaff, and loom, and needle. They 
rose up to do all home duties. They conducted the dairy, 
tlie}^ managed the horses, cattle and flocks. They even 
grasped the plow and the sickle." 

The foregoing extracts from the records give a clear- 
cut view of the spirit with which our progenitors met the 
exigencies of the war of the revolution. More such might 
be made, but these are sufficient for the purpose for which 
they are made, viz : by the examples of the past, to prompt 
us to noble endeavors in tlie present, that shall live to cheer 
and cpiicken their, and our, successors in the interests of the 
future. 

The war having, after years of toil and hardship, been 
])rouglit to a successful issue, and our independence having 
been acknowledged, a delicate and difficult task was com- 
mitted to our sages and patriots : the duty of giving to the 
people a constitution that should bind the people of the 
States in a union, wise, safe, permanent and successful. 



36 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



After four months of earnest deliberation, the convention 
adopted a constitution wliicli they had framed, and submitted 
it to the people of the States for their approval, through 
their conventions. 

A more determined opposition to this constitution was 
manifested in Rhode Island than in the otlier States, so that 
this State was the last to accept it as the law of the land, 
and to enter into the Union. But as in duty bound, by an 
Act of the Legislature, this constitution was submitted to 
the action of the freemen of the several towns, in Town 
Meeting. The vote of this town, after much discussion, 
was taken March 24, 1787. 

Tlie vote taken shows the conserv^ative tendencies that" 
then prevailed, and the slowness of the people to adopt new 
and untried principles in important public matters. 

There were at the time : 

Legal voters in the town 77 

Present and voted , 69 

Voted aga'mst adopting the constitution 68 

Voted /or its adoption 1 

As these votes were taken yea and na}', the names of the 
voters remain on the record. The name of the man who 
could dare to stand alone was : 

* * 

: JONATHAN M A X S O N . \ 
* * 



EARLY SETTLERS, 



The following arc tlie names of heads of families in 
tlie towii of Riclmiond in 1774^ two years previous to tlie 
declaration of independence. 

The}'- are arranged alphabetically, and the number of 
members in each family is given. Some have the repre- 
sentatives of their names in town at the present time, and 
who have furnished me the lineage of those families, which 
I shall submit at the close of the history of the town. 

A. 
Adams, Mary 2. Adams, Stephen 5, 

Austin, Joseph 10. 
B. 



Brown, James 9. 
Babcock, Elisha, Jr. 4. 
Barber, Ezekiel 8. 
Barber, Caleb 10. 
Barber, Nicholas 8. 
Baker, Benjamin, Jr. 2. 
Burdick, Edmund 5. 
Bailev, Clark 5. 



Babcock, Elisha 



Barber, Thomas 
Barber, Samuel 



13. 

14. 
6. 

Barber, Benjamin 11. 
Baker, Benjamin 11. 
Baker, Solomon 5. 
Bailey, Samuel 4. 
Bailev, Richard 11. 



38 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



Bentlcy; John 9. 
Bentley; Ezekiel 5. 
Brownell, Eunice 4. 
Boss, Jonathan 4. 



ColgTove^ Oliver 11 
Clarke, Arnold 3. 
Clarke, Joslma 8. 
Clarke, Walter 7. 
Clarke, Josliua 7. 
Clarke, Isaac 8. 
Clarke, Tliomas 4. 
Clarke, Wm., Jr. 6. 
Collins, Jedediali 7. 
Cory, Jolin 2. 

Dake, Hannali 4. 
Dyer, Daniel 6. 



Bentley, William 10. 
Baggs, John 9. 
Boss, Jeremiah 7. 
Boss, Peter 9. 
Boss, Joseph 3. 
C. 

Colgi'ove, Jeremiah 6, 
Clarke, John 8. 
Clarke, Oliver 4. 
Clarke, William 7. 
Clarke, James 9. 
Clarke, Joseph 10. 
Clarke, Simeon 11. 



Clarke, Samuel 5. 
Card, Benjamin 7. 
Cory, Samuel 6. 
D. 

Dyer, Elizabeth 2. 
D^^er, John 7. 
E. 



Enos, John 4. 

Prazer, John 6. 

Griffin, Joshua 2 
Griffin, James 5. 

Hall, Ruth 6. 
Hall, Elisha 11. 



Enos, Benjamin 11. 
Ellsworth, Joseph 4. 
F. 

Foster, John 3. 
G. 

Griffin, John 4. 

Griffin, Philip 5. 
H. 

Hall, Ebenezer (3. 

Holloway, Nicholas J 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



39 



Hollo wa}^, George 6. 
Herningtoii, Paul 8. 
Hoxsie, Stephen 9. 
Hoxsie, Solomon 7, 
Hoxsie, Joseph 12. 



HoUoway, Samuel 7. 
Hernington, William 4. 
Hoxsie, Barnabas 8. 
Hoxsie, Job 5. 
Hoxsie, Joseph, Jr. 11, 



James, Joseph 3. 
James, Jonathan 5. 
James, Benjamin 7. 
James, Jonathan, Jr. 



Irish, Sarah 4. 
J. 

James, James 16. 
James, Patience 7 
James, Thomas .3. 



Johnson, Ezekiel 12. 



Knowles, Elisabeth 6. 
Kinj'on, Mary 2. 
Kinyon, William 10. 
Kinyon, Benedict 9. 
Kinyon, Thomas, Jr. G. 
Kinyon, Sylvester 5. 



K. 

Knowles, Robert 8. 
Kinyon, John 7. 
Kinyon, Nathan 10. 
Kinyon, Thomas 6. 
Kinyon, Thomas (T. D.) 11 
Kinyon, Sylvester, Jr. 7. 
Kin3^on, John 7. 
L. 

Larkin, Edward 7. 
Larkin, Stephen 4. 
Lewis, Isaac 3. 
Lewis, Nathan 9. 
Lillibridge, Edward 9. 



Larkin, Nicholas 5. 
Larkin, Elisha 2. 
Larkin, David 2. 
Lewis, George 8. 
Lillibridge, Thomas 13. 

Larkum, Lasonlet 9. 
M. 
Moon, John 3. Moon, Job 7. 

Moore, Robert 8. Moore, David 8. 



40 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



Maxson, Jonathan 8. Moshei*; Nicholas 15. 

* Mosher, Gideon 7. 

N. 



NileS; George 5. 
Nicholas, David 



o. 



Ney, George 6. 
Nicholas, Andrew "i. 



P. 



Pettis, Robert 1. 
Potter, Thomas 9. 
Potter, William 3. 
Potter, "William 3d 7. 
Potter, David 8. 
Pierce, Aonnnor 3. 
Philips, Jane 4. 
Pullman, Nathaniel 3. 



Potter, Jonathan 13. 
Potter, Smitern 6. 
Potter, William, Jr. (> 
Potter, Robert 4. 
Potter, Tncomb 3. 
Peterson, Ichabod S. 
Philips, Bartholomew 
Perry, Edward 12. 



S. 



Pendleton, John 6. 



R. 



Reynolds, William 6. 
Reynolds, James 4. 
Remington, David 5. 
Rogers, Weight 1. 



Reynolds, William, Jr., 3. 
Roger, Robert 3. 
Rogers, Samuel 6. 
Rogers, Thomas 7. 



Rogers, Thomas Jr. 10. * 



S. 



Sheldon, William 4. 
Staunton, Samuel 5. 

TifFt, Joseph 12. 
TifFt, Benjamin 8. 
Tifft, Samuel Jr. 4. 
Tifft, Ezekiel 8." 



Sisson, Rodman 7. 
Stanton, Robert 10. 



T. 



Tifft, Joseph Jr. 10. 
Tifft, Samuel 9. 
Tifft, Jeremiah 6. 
Tifft, William 12. 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 41 



Tanner, George 9. ' Thomas, Peleg 9. 

Tindon, Jonathan 9 
V. 

Vallitt, Jeremiah 9. 
W. 
Wording, Samuel 4. Wording, John 4. 

Weaver, Thomas 5. Wright, John 6. 

AVebster, James 10. Webster, John 9. 

Webster, John Jr. 11. Wood mansie, Joseph 7 

Woodmansie, John 5. Woodmansie, Joseph Jr. 4. 

Woodmansie, James 3. Wilcox, Edward 7. 

Wilcox, Sheffield .3. Wilcox, Stephen 7. 

Wilcox, Stephen Jr. 6. Wilcox, Robert 3. 

Wilbour, John 8. Wilbour, Samuel 2. 

Wilbour, Samuel Jr. 7. Wilbour, Peter 7. 
Watson, William 4. Webb, George 10. 

Webb, John 5. Williams, Maccoon 9. 

The whole number of families in town at date as 
above 185. 

Highest number in one family, (James James,) 16. 

There were three, numbering one only, each a male. 

The whole number of persons in town at date. . . 1234. 

Whole number of le^al voters four years later. . 77. 

One Indian family of nine persons 5 parent, Jonathan 
Tindon. Besides these there were twelve Indians and 
fourteen blacks living with, and numbered above, in the 
families of whites. 

The United States census for 1870, gives the town 

population as 2064. 

6 



42 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 

The State census of 1875, enrolls only 1739, a loss not 
readily accounted for. 

The census of 1774, gave for the State 54,715. That 
of 1875, gave for the State, 258,239; a gain in one hundred 
and one years of 203,524. 

In the year 1800, the number of dwellings in town 
were one hundred and thirty-six. In seventy years there 
was a gain of three hundred and twelve, making a total of 
four hundred and forty-eight. 



DISPOSITION OF LANDS. 



The colonial records show that for many years the lands 
in Richmond were quite slowly pm'chased by settlers. To 
liasten their sale, the General Assembly appointed a com- 
mittee to dispose of vacant lands held by authority of the 
colony. This committee sold a lar^e tract June 28th, 1709, 
known in the records as the "Shannock Purchase." • This 
tract extended from Exeter line, on the north, to Pawcatuck 
river on the south. On the east, it was bounded by Beaver 
river ; and on the west, by a meridian passing at the east 
end of the cemetery, at the Wood river church. The pur- 
chasers of this tract were twenty-seven in number. Among 
whom were : 

James Adams, " John Tefft, 

Daniel Wilcox, Thomas Utter, 

Peter Parker, Eber Crandall, 

Daniel Tennant, William Utter, 

Samuel Lewis, John Eanos, 

Nicholas Utter, Jr., Daniel Brown, 

William Gibson, * Weston Clarke, 

William Clarke, George Babcock, 



44 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



George Foster, Samuel Perry, 

Joseph Brown, John Witter, 

Nicholas Utter, Francis Colgrove, 

Jeremiah Orandall. 

How many of these purchasers became actual settlers 
on these lands, is not now known, but many of the famil}' 
names appear in the subsequent history of the town. 

Nicholas Holley is reported as one of the earliest 
settlers in town. He had his estate near Glen Rock. 
Richard Chappell is one of his descendants. Joshua Clarke 
was quite early a resident on the east side of Beaver 
river. 

Benjamin Perry bought, in 1747, the farm where Hon. 
H. P. Clarke now lives. Part of the house now standing 
there was then on the place. This was afterwards the home 
of his son Edward, and after him his grandson George 
Peny, the grandfather of the present owner. 



MILLS AND MILL PROPERTY. 



Grist and saw mills were a necessity to the early 
settlers, and happy for them the power to operate them was 
found in the streams that formed a part of their domain. 
How early, and where the first mills in town we built, no 
known record shows. The small streams were larger and 
nearer perennial when the hills were covered with forests 
than now. 

Probably, their first mills were built along these, as 
dams were more cheaply constructed than on the larger 
streams. In the memory of some now living, many of the 
streams now not occupied as mill forces had there saw mills, 
grist mills and forgingsmith shops. For similar purposes, 
the stream passing south of Rev. G. Tillinghast's, was used 
just east on the Caleb Barber property, where also, early in 
the present century, Archibald Barber and Gardner Nichols 
had a wagon shop, doing much of their work by water 
power. White brook long ago carried a trip-hammer for the 
manufacture of axes, hoes, etc. 



46 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 

At Arcadia^ just on the line between Exeter and Ricli- 
iiiond, there wa» a saw niilL The evidences are »till mani- 
fest there- 

At Wyoming-j mills >vere early bnilt^ and on the Hop- 
kinton side were located the famons Brand's iron works. 

At Hope VallejT-, where tlie cotton factory now stands, 
there was a grist mill, having for one side of the flume, a 
perpendicular rock. 

Where now is the village of Clarke's Mills, on Decem- 
ber 1st, 1759, Jeffre}^ Wilcox gave by will to his son, Abra- 
ham Wilcox, one acre of land. This was deeded by said 
Wilcox to Jeremiah Browning-, March 8th, 1762, with a 
saw mill and grist mill in good running order. 

No mention is made of the saw mill in any subsequent 
transfer. The price paid by Browning for these mills, and 
privilege, Avas e€3,000 current money of New England. 
We should judge that New England money nmst have had 
a current value that had run to a low ebb. This property 
was deeded by several transfers till on January 16, 1771, it 
was deeded to Joshua Clarke, in the line of whose family 
it is still owned, and where a grist mill still runs for the 
mutual benefit of the proprietor and the community. 

As earl}'^ as 1772, a saw mill and an iron manufactory 
existed where Kenyon's mills are now located. The estab- 
lishment was then deeded by Samuel Stuart to Christopher 
Clarke. 

Mills existed at Usquepaug, early known as Mumford's 
Mills, but I believe these were alwavs situated on the east 
side of the stream in South Kingstown. 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 47 

Some more than one Imndred and twenty years ago, 
Wm. Sweet owned a saw mill near where David Moore now 
lives. A mill still exists on the site. 

At Tug Hollow, and Bellville, there early existed saw 
and grist mills. 

Other similar mills may have existed elsewhere, but we 
omit any further details of them and turn to notice the pro- 
gress in the manufacture of woolen and cotton yarn and 
cloths. 



MANUFACTURES. 



BuRlXG the early years of RichmoncVs history, manu- 
factories for wool and cotton were unknown in tlie country. 
As we have already said, the clothing of the inhabitants 
was manufactured by hand. Every farmer devoted a plat 
of ground to the raising of flax, and in his pastures 
o-razed the sheep whose fleeces funiished material for the 
^j-amients that were to protect their persons from the piercing 
blasts of wintry winds. The flax was broken and swingled 
by the swain himself, or some neighbor more skilled in the 
art. The mother hatcheled the flax, and early taught her 
dauo-hters to card and spin the coarser parts known as tow. 
The finer parts, she wound on the distaff" and spun it on a 
wheel propelled by the foot. This part formed the warp, 
and the tow the woof which the mother, or older girls, wove 
for the work-day wear of summer pants. In process of 
time cotton was introduced as a supplement to the tow and 
and linen, or to take the place of the pure linen for those 
who could aff'ord to keep a separate suit for Sabbath day 
wear. 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 49 



Cotton was not so generally manufactured in every 
house as was the flax. Before the introduction of machinery 
for its manufacture, a commendable enterprise was displayed 
by several families iu Richmond. Of these, I am able, at 
present, to mention only those of Reynolds Hoxsie and 
Calel) Barber. I have l)eeH shown a specimen of that pro- 
duced in the former family. It is preserved as an exhibit of 
the past, iu the familv of Deacon J. T. 8heldon. The raw 
cotton was carded, spun, woven and bleached by their own 
manipulation. Linen clotli was often manufactured and 
bleached f()r fine apparel, .here, in those early days. Extra 
exploits are reported of the enterprising- daugliters of Rich- 
mond. Among tliese, Susan nab Barber, sister of Caleb, is 
supposed to have excelled all other maidens of her time, if 
not of all times. She spun between sunrise and sunset, on 
a Avheel of single thread fliers, one hundred and fifty full 
knots of fine even thread. Such is tlie tradition, well au- 
thenticated in the family. Spinning bees, or socials, were 
sometimes enjoyed by the young ladies, wlien they would 
carry with them their wheels and rolls to enjoy tlieir visits 
without slacking their industry. Whether the admiring 
beaux were expected to assist in seeing tlie wlieels home, 
with the lassies, is not reported. 

Besides tlie pre})aration of wool by hand cards, some of 
tlie more skilful were wont to use the worsted long-tooth 
combs in preparing the hurl of the long wool fleeces, to be 
laid side by side iu tlie more durable, and glossy material, 
known as worsted wear. This, and the woolen rolls, were 
spun on the high wheels, the operatives walking backwards, 
turning the wheel with the ri^-ht lian<l, while the left skill- 



50 HISTORY or RICHMOND. 

fully clre^\' out the even twine wliicli was wound on the 
h>pindle as they regained the point from which they had 
retreated. A little later, a hatters shop was successfully 
operated by John Knowles, ]>etween Usijuepaug and the 
Boss meeting house. 

The factories first built in Richmond were built for 
carding wool into rolls, to be S])un by hand, Connecte<l 
with these was usually a fulling mill and cloth-dressing 
apparatus. 

A man l)y the name of JMallard is supposed to have 
built a factory of this kind which was subs«H]uently known 
as Holburton's mills. In 1807, Holburton advertised for an 
experienced clothier. In 1820, Lewis Kenyon purchased 
the estate of Thomas Holburton and continued the business 
until his death. 

The first cotton factor}^ in town was Iniilt on the site 
of the old grist mill at Hope Valley. The articles of 
agreement between the partners was dated May 9th, 1810. 
The persons signing this agreement were : Joseph Arnold, 
Godfre}^ Arnold, John Godfrey, Joseph Tefft, Gorton "W. 
Arnold, Weeden Clarke, Jr. and Slocum Godfre}'. June 
10, 1811, George Perry, Benjamin Perry and John Man- 
chester became subscribers to the agreement. Gardner 
Barber also became a subscriber December 12th, 1812. 
This mill was run for the purpose only of making yarn. It 
was built tw^o stories high and was thirty -four feet wide and 
fort3''-eight feet long. It has changed owners several times 
and has been enlarged. It is now three stories high, fifty- 
two feet wide and one hundred and sixty-three feet long. 
At first it run four hundred dead spindles and made about 



HISTOEY OF RICHMOXD. 51 



three liniulred pounds of vara per week. It now runs over 
four thousand spindles and turns off ten thousand pounds 
per week. Its dam is regarded as a model dam, curving up 
towards the pond in the center, and is based on a rock which 
receives the falling water. Nichols & Langworthy are joint 
proprietors of this water power, using their part of the water 
for their machine shop, grist mill, etc., on the Hopkinton 
side of the river. 

Another company was organized June 1st, 1814 for 
the purpose of erecting a factory at Wyoming, then known 
as Brantl's Iron Works. Their organic name was : "The 
Brothers' Cotton :Manufacturing Company." The partners 
in the company were : Ezekiel Tefft, Samuel Tefft, Xathan 
Lillibridge, Stephen Tefft and Nathan Tefft. 

Previous to the formation of this company, there had 
been a small wool carding machine near the turnpike bridge. 
Also, a grist mill between the bridges ; and on the Hopkin- 
ton side, an iron manufactory, built by Samuel Brand, wlh) 
resided in the old house first west of W. F. Segar's store 
and gave name to the place. 

:\rr. Bi-aud, l)esides the iron works, owned a large farm, 
including the lands now occupied by the villiage of Wyom- 
ing. Francis Brown, his son-in-law, is supposed to have 
built the first tavern, where is now the hotel of A. J. Daw- 
ley. That building was subsecpiently burned and the 
present l)uilding erected in its place. 3Ir. Bi-own also kept 
a jewelry shop and manufactured shoe and knee buckles, 
employing several men, among them Tertius Bailey as 
foreman. This Mr Bailey was the father of Rev. S. B. 
Bailey, so well known in this section. When the fashion 



52 HISTORY OF RICHMOXD. 



changed, Mr, Brown is supposed to have lost heavily and 
closed his business. Tliis was near the close of the last 
century. The factory erected by the Brothers' jManufac- 
turing Company was burned about 1862. It was then 
owned by Pardon Olney and Lewis C. Kenyon. The fire 
caught from the whipper. The factory had a capacity for, 
and was running, thirty-six looms. Mr. Olney also had a 
factory on the other side of the stream, which was burned 
December 10th, 1875. 

The first factory erected where Sheldon's factory now 
is was built by John and Pardon Olney in 1837. This was 
run for a time by the brothers. Pardon, however, sold his 
interest to his brother John, who owned and occupied it till 
about 1844, when it was burned. This is supposed to have 
been set on fire by a boy who was dissatisfied that he was 
compelled to work in the mill. He is supposed to have per- 
ished in the mill, as he was not heard of afterwards. This 
mill runs sixty -four looms, spinning warp and woof. 

A second mill was soon after built by John Olney. 
This is now owned by J. T. Sheldon, who has renovated it, 
making some additions, and replaced the old machinery by 
that which is of the most approved modern structure. It 
runs five thousand spindles employing about forty operatives 
and produces from seven thousand to ten thousand pounds 
of yarn per week. 

In 1802, Joseph Nichols built a grist mill near the 
present location of Carolina Mills. His dam was a wooden 
structm*e, utilizing only a portion of the head and fall of 
the stream as at present obtained. There was then only 
one house in the vicinity. In 1834, this, with near three 



HISTORY OF RICHMOXl^. 53 



hundred acres of land, was sold to Aaron and Sands Ken- 
yon, wlio, again, in 1836, sold to G. H. P. Wilcox. He 
built the present dam in 1837, in contemplation of building 
a machine shop and factory. During the financial pressure 
of 1837, or in consequence of it, the work w^as suspended. 

In 1841, this was purchased by Rowland G. Hazzard, 
who built most of the present buildings and operated them 
in the manufacture of cotton cloth, running one hundred 
looms. In September, 1863, Hazzard sold to the Peace- 
dale Manufacturing Company. December 1st, 1863, they 
sold to Theophilus Hyde. His right was sold by virtue of 
a mortgage, September 5th, 1868, to E. G. Hazzard, who, 
in turn, deeded the same to Messrs, Tinkham, Metcalf & Co., 
February 1st, 1869. These deeded the same to the Caro- 
lina Mills Company, January 1st, 1872, by whom it is now 
operated as a woolen mill, manufacturing cassimeres. 

A store was opened here about the time Wilcox began 
to build, but Mr. Wilcox says that rum became a staple 
article in trade about 1863, at first on the sly. About such 
matters he should be a judge, as he was in the business, in 
^^the long ago," at Brand's Iron Works. 

Shannock. — At an early date, Jesse Babcock had a 
grist mill in one part of his dwelling. How- long this had 
run before 1828, I know not. It then had the appearance 
of one gray with age. John T. Knowdes purchased the site 
and built a small woolen mill, mostly for custom work. 
This was subsequently enlarged and run by George Weeden. 
It is now^ owned by Alexander Oarmichael &: Co., and is 
operated in the manufacture of mixed goods. 



54 HisTOKY OF mcHAioxn. 



"WooBViLLE. — In the early times, there Avas a dam and 
gTi&t mill hig'lier np Htreani tLaii where tlie dam now ij^. 
This was owned hy Capt. Nicholas Larlvin. He joined with 
Simeon Perry and hiiilt a dam where the Woodville dam 
now is. He bnilt a grist mill on tlie Riclmnond side and 
Peiiy commenced the manufacture of iron on the Hopkin- 
ton side. From this circumstance, the emhryo village was 
called PeiTy^s Iron Works. Black sand was obtained from 
Point Judith beach, and mixed with scrap and cast iron in 
the manufacture of wrought iron, whieli was esteemed a 
good article. AVhen then this power began to be used for 
factory purposes, tlie village took the name of Woodville. 
Berry & Stanton m^e the power on the Hopkinton side. 

On the Richmond side, a stone factor}', erected some 
sixteen years since by J. F. Harris, is now run by the 
Rhode Island Hosiery Company. C Larned h the Super- 
intendent, and employs twenty-five hands. They send out 
about seventy dozen jjairs of socks per day. The mill rims 
five jacks, with one thousand spindles. The socks manu- 
factured here are not disfigurerl with those nn|deasant seams 
so annovinff in socks manufactured in manv mills. I'hev 
make socks of all wool, all cotton, or a mixtun' of the two, 
to suit the exigencies of the trade. 

HiLJ.sDALp:. — Mr. David ]\Ioore informs me that in his 
early boyhood, or more than seventy years ago, there was an 
old mist mill at Hillsdale, said to have been built bv Jona- 
than Potter. I'his was sold to George James. December 
iOth, 1827, AVni. Jencks purchased this of George James, 
and March 20th, 1S2S, deeded three-sixteenths of this to 



HISTORY OF TvICHMOXD. 55 



Ebciiezer Carpenter, The\^, together, erected a factory and 
carded wool for customers, as report has it. 

Between 1830 and 1836, AVhitman Kenyon and Wan- 
ton Lillibridge engaged at this place in the manufacture of 
coarse mixed cloth, popularly known as ^^negro cloth." His 
sons continue to carry on a similar business at this place. 
In this vicinity there is now a single mill ou the site of tlic 
old grist mill. 

Tug Hollow. — There was a factory Ituilt at this place 
by Robert Reynolds, a goldsmith, about the year 1811. 
This was primarily built as a woolen mill, doing a custom 
work of carding only. This was subsequently enlarged and 
used for spinning and weaving cotton. This line of manu- 
facture was carried on till about 1836, when the property 
came into the possession of Sheldon & Hoxsie, who changed 
off to the manufacture of Avarps for satinettes. They run 
five hundred spindles, making twelve hundred pounds of 
yarn per week, employing eight hands. 

There was another factory built l)y Wells Reynolds, 
on the site of an old grist mill near Tug Hollow. This 
factory was subsequently burned and has not been rebuilt. 

HoLBURTOX. — At Holburton's mills, now Kenyon's, 
Abiel Kenyon, in 1844, built on the site owned by his 
father at his death, a stone mill for the purpose of manufac- 
turing woolen and cotton goods. In 1862, Elijah Kenyon, 
having purchased of his brother his interest in the estate, 
built the stone store. In 1864, he built three houses as 
homes for the employes, and in 1866 built the other factory. 
During the present season a superior steam power has been 
put in, and other valuable improvements have been per- 



56 HISTORY OF EICHMO^'D. 



fectccl. Thcst' mills now run four sets of woolen machinery 
and a tlionsand spindles. Forty-eiglit loonxs weave woolen 
or mixed goods. 

Clarke's Mills. — The eotton factory; now owned find 
operated by Simeon P. Clarke, was begun l)y liis brother, 
Charles Clarke^ and himself^ in 1848. In 1850^ it was set 
in operation by a ^[r. Green, making yarn thread. While 
the senior brother was in failing healthy he sold out liis in- 
terest to his brother^ to save complications in tlie invent of 
his death, \vhich then was imminent. The factory now runs, 
incduding twisters, two thousand, nine hundred ami twenty 
spindles. 

PLAIIJVILLE. — The factory and village of Plainville 
were built by i). L. Aldrich. The land was previously 
owned by N. KSheiiield Wilbur, who was the owner of quite 
an extensive landed property there at that time. He made 
Mr. Aldrich the offer of the mill privilege and the right of 
ilowage, so far as his land was concerned, with four acres of 
ground for village purposes, as a free donation, on condition 
that Mr. Aldrich should erect a factory there. This was 
about the year 1862. To use the words of Mr. Aldrich 
liimself: this induced him to make a fool of himself. 
Whether he meant that the enterprise, by its excessive 
profitableness, so aroused his love of gain that he lost the 
l)alance of his reason, or whether flattering prospect became 
a bait to an unprofitable speculation, deponent saith not. 

The mill contains eight sets of woolen machinery, 
gotten u}) in the most approved style of modern improve- 
ments. It turns out superior cassimeres of the latest popu- 
lar styles ; ]Mr. Edward Milner being Superintendent. 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 57 



There Are n6\v thirty-two tenemeilts and ti store connected 
with the estate, and something over one hundred and fiftv 
acres of land, with barns and other auxiliary buildino-s. 

Arcadia. — The water privilege, in this place, was 
long ago used to run a saw mill which stood neai'j or exactly 
on, the line between Richmond and Exeter. This was 
deeded May 23d, 1836, by Samuel Barber to Amasa 
8prague, J^enoni Harris and James T. Harris. On the site 
where the upper mill now stands, they erected a factory and 
commenced running their works with the tirm name of 
'^Arcadia Manufacturing Company." In 1842, the mill was 
struck with lightning and burned. It was soon rebuilt on 
the walls of the first buildina*. 

The lower mill was erected in 1847 and set to runnino- 
in 1848. Its dimensions were at first about one hundred 
feet by thirty-eiglit, and one story high, to which an addi- 
tion was made in 1860, of sixtv-eielit feet in leng-th. In 
1865, the property was purchased by D. L. Aldrich & Cci. 
Ill 1867, the Ibwer mill was raised another storv in hei<»-ht. 
Near the same time, the upper mill was lengthened, and a 
wing attached to the rear of this, in which are the dresser 
frames and a repair sliop. The brick pickei- and lapper 
house was erected about the year 1869. 

A valuable reservoir has been constructed two miles up 
the stream. The pond has been raised and the water 
brought to the upper wheel V»y a new route, with a covered 
conduit. Thus the power has been augmented and the flow 
of the stream made more constant. Several new tenement 
houses have been erected and a store built with a hall in 

the second storv. The building is about twentv-ei«>"ht bv 

8 * ^ ^ ^ 



58 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 

fifty-six feet. 1'lie hall is famished with settees and chau- 
deliei"S, and has a nice small library room over the stairs. 
The stairs are made so broad that the hall could be speedily 
emptied in case of fire. If rightly appreciated, this hall 
may be a blessing to the community, providing a pleasant 
place for social and literary gatherings ; and as intended in 
its conception, well adapted for religious worship and Sun- 
day schools. It is truly an honor to the heads and hearts of 
those who conceived the plan and carried their purpose into 
execution. 

The mills run over six thousand spindles, and one 
hundred and twenty-two looms, turning out about twenty- 
five thousand yards of cloth per week. 

UsQUEPAUG — On the east border of the town, has had 
factory power in operation, but the mills have been burned. 
These, I believe, were all on the east side of Queen's river, 
which, from near this point, is the boundary line southward 
between Richmond and South Kingstown. A store and 
public house and wagon shop still exist there, with some 
other mechanical interests. 



OTHER ENTERPRISES. 



Merchandise lias had its devotees in the various 
villages that have sprung up in different parts of the town. 
These stores have been a convenience to the inhabitants of 
the several neighborhoods, furnishing them facilities at hand 
to procure the necessary articles of use in the arts of life, 
often proving a public benefit, furnishing market facilities 
for the minor products of the farm, and the garden and the 
outcomes of skill and industry. 

The rearing of poultry of various kinds has been an 
enterprise of profit to many. The sales of eggs, and the 
flesh and feathers, annually amount to a large sum. Fowls 
of various kinds do a wonderful work in lessening the dam- 
ages wrought by worms and insects on the fruits, grains and 
other vegqjtable productions. They furnish also a manure 
scarcely less valuable than guano. Farmers and gardeners 
will find it for their interest to study more systematically 
and scientifically this department of home industry. 

CranbeiTy culture has been made a specialty, bv Sam! 
K. Browning, near the center of the town, and by others 
near the eastern and southeni borders, yielding often large 
incomes for the number of acres devoted to this culture. 



60 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



The forests of the town have, in the yesLYs past, fur- 
nished material of commerce in the form of building mater- 
ial, hoop poles, wood and coal. Of the latter, large quan- 
tities were made and sold while the iron works were in blast. 
This was often delivered %t the works for four dollars per 
liundred bushels, when the legal bushel contained forty 
quarts. Ship timber was also cut and drawn to Westerly, 
and perhaps to other places. 

The manufacture of leather, by the aid of oak bark, 
was earh' carried on in some parts of the town. Simeon 
Babcock owned and carried on a tanner}^, currier shop, and 
boot and shoe shop, on the west side of Shannock Hill. The 
tannery was built some sixty years ago. He finally added 
a grocery store and sold alcoholic liquors. This used up his 
tannery and became a snare to himself and others. 

C. T. Jackson, State geologist, found along the flats of 
Queen's river, extensive beds of peat and muck, which he 
considered valuable as a basis of composting manures 
needed on the farms in the vicinity. 

There are several ponds and bogs in town, hitherto but 
little utilized, which, in the opening century, may become of 
increased revenue to the inhabitants, as by increased knowl- 
edge they shall realize their value and learn how to appro- 
priate it. 

Other enterprises of limited extent have been carried 
on by the inhabitants of the town during the century brought 
to a period by this festal day, but the brief space of time 
allotted for collecting the materials for this paper, and the 
fear of wearying b}^ their recital, will forbid tracing them in 



HISTORY OF ItlCHMOND. 61 



detail now, tliougli of themselves interesting as matters of 
history and instructive as way marks for the future. 

I must not, however, pass pver the dairy without a few 
remarks. T\\q sustenance of many families of the early 
settlers was largely drawn from their herds. The flesh of 
the annuals gave additional strength to the brawny arms of 
the toiling farmer, and he shared with his wife and children 
the milk, the butter and the cheese of the dairy. 



THE RAILROADS. 



The 8toning-ton and Providence railroad, which was 
huilt about 1837, enters this town near the southwest corner 
and passes out of it east of the junction, to re-enter near 
Shannock Mills. 

Wood River Branch road was completed, and com- 
menced running cars, in July 1874. It enters this town a 
little above Woodville, thus giving about one third its 
length and a depot in Richmond, besides the depot at the 
junction. 

These roads add not a little to the wealth of the town, 
and are a great convenience to the inhabitants, bringing 
them into easy connection with the great public marts of the 
country both for travel and mercantile facilities. 



V/ARS,--ETC. 



We have, on earlier pages, spoken of the war of the 
revolution and of the part which the citizens of Richmond 
took in the great struggle for independence. But another 
war arose in relation to which all records in regard to Rich- 
mond's part in the conflict seem, so far as we have been able 
to learn, to be entirely wanting. The war known as the 
war of 1812, was declared against Great Britain on the 19th 
of June in that year. The New England States, as a gen- 
eral thing, did not hastily enter into this war. Sympathy 
with this feeling may be a reason why we find no reference 
to this war in the records either of the Town Meetings of 
Richmond or of the doings of the Town Councils. Another 
cause may be found in the fact that certain portions of the 
town records are wanting for a period embracing the time of 
tlie first part of the war. By some means not satisfactorily 
explained, the records were partially consumed by fire. 

The memory of some old men gives us this fact : A 
draft was made for two men from the military companies of 
the town, and, previous to the drawing, it was agreed that 
whoever was drawn and went into the service^ should receive 



64 HISTORY OF richmo:n^u. 

a dollar from every man not thus drawn. The men drawn 
were both named Hoxsie but though they held themselves 
in readiness, they were never called into the field. 

Another wat occurred in Rhode Island in the year 
1842. This was not a war with foreign powers, nor was it 
a war of bloody battles. It was rather a war of angry 
passions, called the Dorr war. 

In August following the outbreak, • delegates were 
chosen, a convention held, a constitution laid before the 
people for ratification, which won in Richmond seventy-nine 
yeas and ten nays. There was k separate clause proposing 
the question whether the word white should be inserted as a 
condition of freedom to vote. Four otily voted to insert. 

The war of the rebellion broke out into open hostilities 
in 1861. Richmond as a town was not \vanting in the hour 
of decision. Seeing the government stripped of its resour- 
ces, by those entrusted with its treasures, navy and forts, 
they aroused to the riescue. The sturdy yeomanry of the 
town sprang to arms, and bared their bosoms to the fight, 
and the men of wealth laid open their treasures to furnish 
ttie pay, and rations, and munitions of the forces. 

The ntnnber of enlistments credited to the town, for 
all departments of the service, is one hundred and four. 
The disbuBvsements by authority of the town were #20,547.- 
20. Of this sum, the State government assumed |2,700, 
leaving a balance to be met bv the town of 117,847.20. 
All this has long since beeii paid by the town. There was 
also paid for the support of soldiers families, $2005 ^^^^^ P^'<^ 
for the enlisting of soldiers, -^462. Contributions were 
forwarded hv friends for tlie sick and W(^nn«led, amounting 



HlSTOllY OF lllCHMOXD. 



(jO 



to $13,000. Maki-iig a total of $215509.20 raistnl for war 
interests hy RiclnnoiK.!. 

The following is a list of the names of i)ersons who 
volunteered in the war of the rebellion from the town of 
liiehmond : 



Joshua Allen, 

William Burton, 
Charles AV. Bai-ber, 
William Bentley, 
George Henry Brown, 
John S. Babcock, 
]\Iattliew S. Barber, 
(iideon ]\r. Barber, 



B. 



James H. Arnold. 

Patrick Burk, 
Thomas B. Briggs, 
John F. Bitgood, 
Samuel Bennit, 
(Jeorge H. Bray man, 
William Bane, 
James W. Bedford, 



Charles E. Baglev. 



c. 



i )liver H. Congdon, 
William Cherry, 
Stephen A. Clarke, 
AVilliam 0. Clarke, 
GeorgeL. Clarke, 
George S. Church, 
Alvin L. Card, 



Moses Cherry, 
John B. Clarke, 
John H. Clarke, 
Jolin R. Clarke, 
Loren R. Chase, 
Amos C. Corey, 
Georo-e W. Crandall 



IMiillip Corr, 
D. 



(ieorge P. Dyer, 

Albert C. Durfee, 

John Dervin, 
9 



William C. Durlre, 
John Duffy, 
James Dodds. 



6G 



HISTORY OF RICHMOIsD. 



Nathan P. Edwards^ Samuel England. 

F. 
William H. Fletcher. 

G. 

Harris R. Green, Joseph A Green. 

//. 
Daniel Hoxsie^ William A. Hall^ 

Chandler X. Handell. 
J. 



David W. James, 

Stukley Kenney, 
Daniel 0. Kenyon, 



K. 



Gershon P. Johnson^ 

David II. Kenyoii, 
Georp-e W. Kenvon. 



H. H. Larkin, 
Reubin T. Larkin, 
Silas Lillibridg'e, 
James G. Lewis, 
Benoni Lewis, 

Charles H. Main, 
William W. Maxon, 

Nathaniel Niles, 
Charles P. Nye, 



31. 



N. 



0. 



Edw^ard Lark in, 
Amos A. Lillibridge, 
R. J. Lillibridge, 
Jacob Lewis, 
Charles Larkham. 

Joseph M. Marshal, 
James McDonald. 

James A. N^'-e, 
James H. North up. 



William W. Ormsbee. 
P. 



Hazard Partlow 



AVilliam H. H. Palmer, 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



67 



Reynolds C. Phillips^ 
Joseph B. Perry, 
Almon K. Parker, 
William H. Pierce, 

George C. Rathbuii, 

Horace Slocuni, 
Jolin H. 81ocnm, 
James A. Sherman, 
Albert G. Sheldon, 

Edward S. Tabor, 
Thomas H. Tillinghast, 



E, 



S. 



Albert P. Perry, 
George H. Potter, 
Allen G. Peck, 
Harvey Pierce. 

John T. Pteynokk. 

Charles E. Slocum, 
Sheffield L. Sheniian, 
Charles E. Siilivan, 
David A. Segar. 

William O. Tabor, 
AVilliam C. Tillin^ha^t, 

O 7 



Brightman Tucker. 



Charles H. AVorden, 
Leander L. Weaver, 
Sylvester AVoodmansee, 
Nehemiah Watson, 



W. 

Vavdon T. Wright, 

Thomas A. AYorden, 

James A. Woodmansee, 

John B. F. Wilbur, 

Henry B. Willcox. 

An honorable record attaches to the mest of those wiio 
enlisted. There were exceptions, however. One was 
drummed out of camp l)efore leaving the State, as unworthy 
a place in the army of the republic. Four deserted. Two 
were discharged as worthless. Two are marked as missing. 
As to four or five others, the Adjutant General furnishes no 
account whether discharged or lost. The last record is their 
enlistment. 



THE POOR. 



A I'll ACT i€E of doubtful compassion prevailed even 
at a late period. The unfortunate poor were subjected to 
the mercenary greed of any speculator in lunnan service. 
They were let in open meeting, individually, with the under- 
standing that the price was a balance beyond what the bid- 
der could realize from the service he could exact from the 
person, or persons, struck off to him. Thus, on August 
31st, 1819, eight persons were bid off at prices varying from 
thirteen cents to one dollar per week 5 the total paid for 
the board of the eight persons, by .the town, being $4.61 
per week. This was regarded as a financial improvement 
over the practice which had hitherto prevailed of leaving to 
the Town Council the care of providing homes for them. 

A plan of this kind may be economical, in a financial 
point of view, but is so likely to be a bait to men more mer- 
cenary than merciful, that a humane spirit would be likely 
to distrust the operation. 

We now ask special attention to a subject of importance 
to the poor. A practice, inaugurated by the first Town 
Council as their first act, a practice which has been pursued 



HISTORY or lllCHMOND. G9 



and acted upon from time to time, but wliicli, though hoary 
with age, and cLaimed to he " right according to laiv]^^ we 
wish to dedare as abhorrent to the finer feelino-s of our in- 
8tincts and we believe it to be opposed to the express direc- 
tions of Jehovah to his people when he led them to the land 
of their promised inheritance, and a violation of the Golden 
Rule. That Town Council passed the followino- as their 
first act : 

'^ Voted, That the Town Clerk grant out a warrant 
forthwith to transport out of this town into the town of 
Westerly, one Ebenezer Kinj^on and his wife and famih-, 
in order that thej^ may return to the town where of rio-ht 
thev belono' accordino" to Inw." 



MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 



Ill tile year 1800, tlie amoniit of tax assessed in town 
on all estates, real and personal, was 8483.52.25-100. 

On dwellings separate from other estates, '$55.57.6-100. 

On lands, $426.94.65-100. 

On two slaves, at fifty cents eacl), -$1.00. 

There were two hundred and nineteen taxpayers. 

The largest tax wa»* assessed to Simeon Clarke : 
5:9.06.6-100. 

The smallest, on land of Joseph Knowles, of South 
Kingstown, SO. 02, 

George James was Collector. 

On the 16th of September, 1796, the tax list footed up, 
oil the real and personal estate, -$158,459. 

In 1875, after a period of seventy-nine years, it footed 
up $1,264,200. 

In 1865, there were in town seven hundred and thirty- 
five acres of plowed land, thirty-five hundred and twenty- 
fom' acres of mowing land, eighty-three hundred and seventy- 
eight acres of pasture land, and of unimproved lands, 
ninetv-two hundred and eleven acres. 



HISTORY OF IlICHMOXD. 71 



At Usqiiepaiig, there was formerh' a tavern standi n<>- 
directly on the line between Richmond and 8onth Kini^- 
town, so that the seller of liquor stood in Richmond while 
the drinker was in the other town. 

Richmond has not been without men of inventive 
genius. Among these we number Horace B. Knowles, who 
invented a mowing machine driven and operated by hand, 
a self-operating railroad switch, a tape machine, and a 
machine for putting tin tips upon boot lacings. The screw 
propeller is also claimed as his invention. For developing 
some of these, and bringing them into use, he left his native 
town and located in Providence. 

The following accounts are taken from a book whose 
ear list date is 1761, but, on the first page, reads: 

^^May ye 24th, 1763, then come from the Fish Keels.' 

It appears to have been the property of Joseph Philips. 
It is introduced to show the difference of style and exj^res- 
sion in recording business acts and the change that has taken 
place in the manner of spelling. One of the extracts will 
show to what an extent colonial currency had depreciated in 
value. 

One memorandum is as follows : 

'^ October ye 22, 1765. Tho^- Potter Promased to 
Keep Petter Boss Indemnified from any cost or damage on 
Joseph Sanderlin's going out of Jale." 

An account, commenced June 24, 1764, is kept on one 
page in colonial currency, and another in lawful English 
money value. The spelling is as in the account but the 
amount is carried out in two columns as on the separate 
pages. 



HISTOllY OF rvICHMOXD. 



" John Lewis l)r 

£ S I) i' s D 

To Hitting Olio Deed & note 1 5 " '' 1 2 

To the use of niv mair one 

day : 1 '' ;;...-" 1 '' 

To carino- 13a<»' of liar seed. . '' 10 '' " '' 6 

To pastering a man" 2 weeks 

5 days 4 15 "....'' 4 2 

To keeping 3 cattle 3 weeks 18 " " '' Id 9 

To keeping 3 cattle 2 days. . 2 '' " " • 1 9 

To keeping a calf 7 weeks. .2 2 '' " 1 10 



The credits are in lawful money. 
])y the use of 2 oxen & cart 
to go to Teffts & fetch 

a loome ■■ , 1 

July By 5 peacks of corne '' 5 '^ 

January 1765 By one bush- 

ei corne 4 

" By 1 bushel corne.... " 4 '' 

Febuary By 1 bushel corne " 4 " 

March 8 — 1765 Credit in full l)y nie received 

of Lewis 

Joseph Pliilips." 

Another account on debtor side is as follows : 
"May ye 9th 1763 

£ s I) 

To my a'oinp- to Providence myself and hors 12 

To my dinner going down 1 5 

To 2 quarts of oats 10 

To 1 dram 8 

To my supper and lodging 1 15 

To my hors keeping 1 nite 2 15 

To my l)reakfast 1 5 

To 2 '(piarts of oats 10 

To 1 di-am S 

€21 19 



HISTORY OF KICHMOXD. 73 



The following' is the list of the names of Town Clerks 
since the organization of the town in 1747 to the present 
(late, with the lengtli of time each served in tliat office : 

John Wel)ster, seven years. 

William Chirke, one year. 

Simeon Perry, three years and two montlis, when he 
moved from the town, and 

Stephen Hoxsie was elected for tlic r(Mnain<l(M' of the 
year, ten months. 

John Tefft, Jr., seven 3^ears. 

Thomas Lillibridge, sixteen years. 

Tliomas Tefft, thirty years. 

Keynolds Hoxsie, forty years. 

Halsey P. Clarke, the present incumbent, was elected in 
June, 1852, and has held the office continuously since j a 
little over twenty-four years. 

In 1809, June 30th, a destructive gale passed over the 
town, doing* much damage to forests. And some buildings 
were also destroyed. Its track was narrower, and the dam- 
age far less, than that which swept over Xew England Sep- 
tember 23d, 1815. 

December 25th, 1811, a snow storm of great severity 

passed over a wide range of territory. The severity of this 

stomi was felt more from the sudden change from a season 

of remarkable warmth that preceded it. The day previous 

was so warm tluit many attended Christmas meetings, and 

festivals, in thin dresses adapted rather to summer than 

winter wear. The storm came from the northeast. It is 

said tlie first point wliere it was known to reach tlie ground 
10 



74 HISTOEY OF RICHMOND. 

was in the western part of North Carolina, a short time before 
midnight. Its contact with the ground was in a direction in 
opposition to the com'se of the wind. It did not develop 
here till near four o'clock in the morning. Doors were 
blown open by the violence of the wind. The cold was so 
piercing that children were frozen in their beds, and cattle, 
hogs and poultry perished in great numbers. The snow 
also fell in great depth, burying flocks of sheep and other 
animals under the piling drifts. There were then few ves- 
sels on the Sound but what were out suffered intensely, the 
spray freezing on the sails, and on the hulls of the vessels, 
so as to render them unmanageable. Seamen, and passen- 
gers, froze their limbs in their efforts to keep the vessels 
above water. 



LIQUOR SELLING, ETC. 



The sale of intoxicating liquors probably was carried 
on in what is now Richmond, before it was incorporated as a 
town. As before noticed, the town was incorporated August 
IS, 1747. On the 28th of the same month an election was 
held, and the Town Council organized September 1st. 
Their first act we have noticed. Their second and third acts 
were to grant licenses ^^to sell all kinds of strong liquors." 
These were granted John Webb and Nathaniel Potter. The 
former paid five pounds ; and the latter two pounds, ten 
shillings. The second year, these licenses were renewed, 
and two more were granted, to Joseph Woodmansie, Jr., and 
Nicholas Larkin. Webb's place of business, was at what 
has been called the ''Punch Bowl." Larkin's stood near 
where the meeting house at Woodville now stands. The 
third year, no man could get a license without giving bonds 
in the sum of one hundred pounds for their ''true and faithful 
performance of keeping good order during the time of 
license." The evils of the traffic seem thus early to crop 
out, and demand greater safeguards for the public peace and 
virtue. AVebb, this year, is charged twelve pounds for a 



76 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



ricenye. Larkin, "for sundry reasons/' is at first refused a 
license to sell liquors of any kind, or to keep a public house. 
At the end of two months, Larkin succeeds in overcoming- 
tlie scruples of the Ooimcil, and he is licensed for the 
remainder of the year and, Joseph Enos, Stephen Wilcox, 
Robert Moore and John Stanton are licensed ; but no license 
is allowed to run further than to the election and re-organ- 
ization of the Town Councils, please mark this. 

It would seem that a sense of propriety might dictate 
a similar course for all succeeding Councils. The traffic 
seems to have grown with the grow^th of the town ; and 
wherever there was a store, or a tavern, intoxicating liquors 
were a part of the stock in trade. As the places of sale 
multiplied, the habit of drinking became general. Not the 
sensuous alone drank, but good men drank. It was little 
or no disparagement to a man to share the social glass. 
Even fifty years ago, men high in esteem — magistrates, 
deacons, and even ministers of the gospel — drank. It was 
furnished at funerals, and at weddings. In short, it was not 
deemed indecorous to be introduced any and everywhere. 
Politicians made it a tool with which to bias the mind and 
shake the purpose of men entrusted with the ballot. It w^as 
no uncommon occurrence on election days to find the candi- 
dates for office giving free breakfasts to all. 

rifty-three years ago, a scene of this kind, here in 
Richmond, made such indelible impressions upon the mind 
of a young man, that he vowed, deep down in his heart, 
never to taste the dangerous chalice. He has, thus far, kept 
his pledge. And well he might. His father and his uncle, 
accustomed to be sober, exemplary men, finding liquor tables 



HISTORY OF RICHMOXD. 77 



xiiTaiig'ed on either side of the Y'Dting" hall, drank to please 
•each of the caudidates, and drank ,so often and so freely^ 
that the live-long nigkt was too short for them, with tlie 
faithful help of the young man, to reach their home before 
iiurora had pioneered the sun to his plaee in the eastern 
liorizon. Thus mortified, humbled and w^arned, he guarded 
liis own heart and life-practice by entering his vow on the 
tablet of indelible promises. With vsnch practices so early 
begun, and persiijtently pursued, by the devotees of rum. 
^vliat but widespread ruin could be the result. Drunkards 
were m.ultiplied, fortunes were wasted, enterprise ^\'as para- 
iized and morals were corrupted. 

While the patrons of the grogshop were thus beguiled, 
and their earnings and possessions squandered, no corres- 
ponding profit accrued to the retailer. Though large sales 
were made, they were not all ultimately successful. Alas I 
the history of tlie traffic is a history of failures. Success is 
the exception. Each part of the town had its retailer. If 
memorv could ffo back and be true to itself, how manv sad 
wrecks would it find. Those who continued longest, and 
were most successful, are most vividly remembered, whilst 
the long train of failures pass into obscurity and are for- 
gotten. 

1 am unwilling to re-open wounds in the hearts of living 
friends of those who made shipwreck, but who is there that 
has lived in Richmond for fifty, thirty, or even twenty years, 
but can recall instances where retailers have been customers 
at their own counters, or whose sons have not all escaped 
the snaky demon. Imperfect as has been my own knowl- 
edge of Richmond, I can point to more than one case wliere 



'S HISTORY OF KICHAIOIVD, 



the father and his first born son have become victims of the 
glass^ and more tlian one retailer's dang'hter who has had a 
drunken Imsband, Their misfortunes are not unlike others. 
In my native town, the old tavern keeper^ long* before his 
time to die, could keep sober oiily by allowing his wife to 
cany the keys of the har on her apron-strings. Of his six 
sons, four became intemperute. His three daughters mar- 
vied, and the husbands of two of them became inebriates^ 
(jne djnng of <Mir'nim tremens while he was comparatively a 
young man. Thus does this terrible business verify the 
Scripture, that : "He visits the iniquities of the fathers upon 
the children.-' 

Mr. l)awley, of Wyoming, was the first man to whom 
i went, book in hand, to gather materials for this paper. 
With gentlemanly frankness, he gave me the facts of his 
house as far back as he knew its history. Men of the 
|)resent generation need not be told wliere liis house is 
located, but slioidd my grandson find this manuscript, he 
should know it to be in Wyoming, formerly Brand's Iron 
Works. Since the opening of the New London and Provi- 
dence turnpike, this liouse has been better known than any 
other public house in town. Mr. Dawley's knowledge of 
the liouse went back only to the time when Joseph Irish 
owned and occupied it. He died in 1818. His life was a 
moral failure. He gave the tavern to Matthew G. Wilbur, 
but before he came into possession of it, a Mrs. Fields occu- 
pied it, but did not succeed. Mr. Wilbur tlien occupied it 
for ten or fifteen years, and sold with no capital beyond what 
was given to him, and is thought to have remained temperate. 
Silas U. Kenvon next carried on tlie tavern for about ten 



HISTOKY OF RICHMOXD. 79 



years, and when he left, owed almost everybody and was 
unable to pay ten per cent, of his indebtedness. 

Mr. Dawley has occupied the stand for nearly thirty 
years. A part of the time he has made it pay ; at others, 
not. He said nothing of the victims of his traffic, but said 
of himself that "he gets drunk when he takes a notion and 
when he chooses he lets it alone." I am but little acquainted 
with Mr. Dawley, but think, if he were to take his notion of 
abstinence oftener, and make it last longer, it would be an 
improvement. He is an exception among tavern keepers. 
He uses no tobacco. He did smoke occasionally, till a Con- 
necticut Yankee sold him cigars that he dare not continue 
to smoke. He seemed to wish me to understand he was a 
man who had fixedness of will for self-government. 

Mr. Jordan^ of the same village, has not been so long in 
the trade. While he pursues it' with the hope of profit, he 
admits that "the business has a bad side to it." He should 
bear in mind that while a few retailers have added to their 
fortunes, the great majorit}^ have made financial failures. 
Each man, hovv^ever, has assured himself on the start, that 
he would be an honorable exception . A more lamentable loss 
has usually been a loss of susceptibilitv of the moral sense ; 
a loss of regard for right and the calls of conscience toward 
God and man. The very nature of the business involves 
this. Scarce a retailer can be found but that, when at his 
best, will own, as did Mr. Jordan, "the business has a bad 
side to it." Feeling that the money prospect is the only 
apology he has for the ruin he is perpetrating, the retailer 
must loathe himself as measured by his work. He feels the 
inward corrosion on his soul, though he may seek to hide it 



80 HliS'TOriV OF RlCEMOSlh 



from his eyes. If lie thinks of God^ he tveinbles for the ac- 
rouiit to he rem]eve<l at the final ai»^ize. To piu's^ue a hnai- 
)ies8 frawg'ht >vJth »^iich inisgivings^ is to siuppvess* all jsticred 
reii'avel*^ fov law- He eoiue!^ to ol)ev law oiilv when it fiivort^ 
liis planS;, but evatles it ju&t as readily \vhen lie <'an do it 
with impunity. With ov without licenise he knowj^ no re- 
straint hut interest. Henee, lie flees to unv, and ^^verv tech- 
nicality that fav«ns the traffif. A saloon keeper will sell hi^^ 
L'rackerg at a price that will allow a wide niaro-in of protits^ 
and adds whiiskey enough to wet them, A druggij^t will fill 
for the eleventh time a hottle onee labeled with a doetor^s 
pre«cnption. Such evasions help to prepare a man to ])e 
untrue everj'where^ a sham and a liypocrite. i^icensed ven- 
ders, habitually^ vi(date their licenses^ and unlicensed ones, 
with an air of sanctity^ favor their patronizing friends with 
a sly bottle or dram^ and botli will claim and protdaim their 
innocence; or shelter themselves behind the hypocrisy of 
some blatant pretender of temperance. 

We have mentioned a few of the early retailers an<l 
two (d" those now engaged in the sale. (4. N. Ennis has a 
license at the junction ; William H. Bray, at Carolina ; 
Perry K. Browning and A. J. Dawley, Jr., at AVyoming ; 
and undoubtedly there are some secret violators, both within 
the town and out of it, in border towns, where no license is 
claimed to prevail. 

During the century under our republican government, 
a long array of dealers in liquid death have filed in, filling up 
the ranks as their predecessors have gone up to their reward, 
or downwai"d to an impecunious retreat. Some have seen 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 81 

their error, abandoned the nefarious traffic and lent a helping 
hand on the side of sobriety and virtue. 

Silas Moore, Perry Clarke and George Perry were 
among those of tlie last generation that engaged in the 
traffic. They left some property, but their foot prints were 
ah)ng the precincts of danger to themselves, their families, 
and the community. 

While this long line of dealers were seeking to hoard 
their gaint^, who shall tell the tale of woe that was the out- 
growth ot their business f During the one hundred and 
twenty-nine years since the first license was granted in 
Richmond, what family connection has passed unscatched 
by the poisonous blast from this deadly upas ! Young men, 
the pride of their fathers, and the pet of doting mothers and 
fond sisters, have fallen before the fatal enchantment. Men 
that once bid fair to be an honor and a blessing to tlie town 
that reared them, have gone down to graves of infamv, less 
a grief and shame there ihan while livnng. For the few 
paltry doUars that have been paid into the treasury for 
licenses, golden eagles have been paid out for the support of 
paupers, and the expenses of courts and jails, required to 
restrain the criminals that have been crazed, or ruined, bv 
the rnm sold under those licenses. 

Professed christians have dishonored their profession bv 

yielding to the cravings of an appetite whetted by licensed 

indulgence, and the precious name of Christ is dishonored 

by their unhallowed example. Rum has cost the town large 

sums in the way of lawsuits, gotten up in conseipience of 

mishaps that have occurred from inebriation. In a thousand 

ways, rum opens leak holes for the wealth and honor of the 
11 



8^ HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



town. Hangers on around grog shops create an air of filtli 
and vulgarity, that poisons the heart and corrupts the man- 
ners of unwary boys and youths. They train an army of re- 
cruits for a downward march to the gutter, the prison and 
the galknvs. Oh! what heart aches have preyed upon the 
finer feelings of the child of the drunkard, as he has 
found himself neglected by his schoolmates, or as he has 
been cohlly shut out of society because his ftither was a 
drunkard! Wives and daughters have hung their heads in 
shame as they have seen those dear to them as life, playing 
the fool, or made the jibe of the vulgar, by reason of the en- 
chanting bowl ! While this long line of woes has been swell- 
ing like the surges of a sea of death, has nothing been done 
to turn away the tide of this engulfing horror ? I have been 
more difficulted to find reliable facts touchins^ this, than anv 
other department of my research. Up to the time of read- 
ing the outline manuscript of this historic memorial on our 
Nation's natal day, I found no reliable witness of any tem- 
perance organization that ever existed within the town. 
Since that date a few facts come from memory, but I find 
no records of any such united action. The substance of 
that which comes well sustained is this : First, it is generally 
conceded that in this town, as in Hopkinton in the early 
da^^s of the temperance agitation, the most popular minister 
in town for some cause did not favor the organization 
of temperance societies. He regarded the Church as 
the Divinely appointed organization for carrying forward 
reforms and benevolent enterprises and that other organiza- 
tions for such purposes would detract from the honor that 
properly belonged to the church. To reform in the church, 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



and tbrougli llie cLurcli reaching those outside, would he the 
pattern of his ideal. Tliis view of the matter has so much 
of consistency and conser\-atisra in it, that whatever fallacy 
mav appear in the conclusions they draw, it ought to shelter 
the venemble men who held such sentiments from those 
severe censures that some were disposed to heap upon them, 
especially a,s their long and very useful lives were in har- 
mony with these sentiments. They loved thek churches, 
and were unwilling that any other compact should rob them 
of their honors. In this they were right, but the inferences 
they drew in relation to the temperance movement was not 
necessary ; and the inferences that others <hew from their 
position on tlie one hand, wronged these venerable men, 
and on the other, the inferences that others drew, wionged 
the temperance cause and j>erpetuated the evils of rum, and 
ofave shelter to the devotees of drink. < )utside of these in- 
tiiiences, arose in their might men who saw and felt that 
something must be done more effective than was being done 
to aiTest the tide of niin setting in upon the public weal. 
Somewhere between the year 1828 and 1833, a society was 
i»rgauized in the vicinity of Tug Hollow, having for its 
pledge abstinence from spiritous liquoi-s. This only in- 
cluded the idea of distilled liipiors. This was then a long 
step in the right dii-ection. In fact, it was as far in that 
direction, as the public mind was prepared for, in most other 
towns around. In this movement, such men as Gideon 
Hoxsie. AVells Reynolds, and Thomas Reynolds and his 
brother Robert were prominent among the men who lent a 
helping hand to the cause. This society flourished for some 
time and included many Imsiness men in that portion of the 



84 HISTOIJY OF RICHMO^'i). 

town. Whether the total abstinence pledge was ever 
adopted by it, I have not learned. In the period of the 
Washingtonian movement, a society of that kind was organ- 
ized near Shannock hill, at the Boss meeting house, under 
the labors of Rev. John Baker. This society seemed to 
accomplish a good work, and, I suppose, flourished daring- 
the life of Elder Baker. Its influence may still dwell in 
the hearts and lives of many in that section of this and the 
adjoining towns. 

The question of license, or no license, became one that 
was brought forward for discussion. Isaac Collins, Chair- 
man of our Town Council for the present year, thinks he 
was the first Councilman who opposed the granting of any 
license. This was in 1834. Licenses, however, were 
granted over his protest. 

Still later, there was a struggle on the license question. 
y. R. Stephens took an active part as a lecturer. Some, or 
all the men above named, continued to be a power in town. 
To that list may be added, as prominent in the struggle, the 
names of John Olney, Deacon B. J. T. Reynolds, John 
Philips, Maxson T. Kenyon, Thomas Ennis, Welcome 
Prosser, Deacon John T. Sheldon, and others. Later still, 
others have continued the struggle with manly perseverance, 
adapting themselves to the changes of law, and the phases 
of the traflic. 

In Town Meeting, June 5, 1849, the question of grant- 
ing licenses was voted upon, and the result gave a majority 
against the granting of licenses. There were one hundred 
and eleven votes cast ; forty-one for license and seventy 



HISTORY OF RICHMOXD. 85 

against license, giving a majority of twenty-nine against the 
traffic. 

Again, in 1850, the vote was retaken, and resulted, as 
before, in a majority condemning the traffic. Every year, 
when the vote was taken separately, the result was always 
for prohibition. Space forbids following this history in 
detail. Suffice it to sa}^, that the contest has been waged 
with alternations from side to side, giving occasion for the 
supposition that other motives have at times superseded high 
moral and political principle, in casting of the ballot of free- 
men in this town, so that the purity of the elective franchise 
has become a secondary consideration. In fact, it is cur- 
rently reported that enough men can be found in town to 
give the balance of power, who will as readily put their vote 
in the market as they would their horse or their dog. ^'Free 
rum," of course, has a weighty influence over men of so 
venal a ballot. Arouse the public conscience, make the 
ballot sacred, and patriotism a pure flame, and the orgies of 
the vile traffic would be hushed and bacchanalian revels 
would be succeeded by the hum of industry and the songs 
of peace. 

May I not here appeal to the latent patriotism of the 
men eno-aofed in the traffic f Have vou not lono- enough 
followed a business which virtually barters the bodies and 
souls of your neighbors for a mess of miserable pottage, 
less worthy than that for which Esau^ sold his birthright ? 
The motive to transmit to your children the fruit of your 
toil is a worthy one 5 but, to heap up treasures by the blood 
of the victims of your traffic, will entail a mildew on treas- 
ures thus acquired. If you sow to the wind, your children 



S6 HISTORi' OF KICHMO^n. 



and rlnldven's children may reap -the whirlwind. On this 
eenteiinial year, let the love of country, the love of liuniaii- 
ity, rhe above the love of gain. Emulate the example of 
the men who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their 
sacred lionors^ in their country's cause. Htrike out for an 
example worthy of yourselvcirt, and transmit to your jmsterity 
a name that will be dearer to children's children than houses* 
and lands, and treasures of gold, in a town blighted by the 
perpetual curse of rum. 

License to sell intoxicating liquors as a beverage is a 
crime affainst human societv, and a sin aii*ainst God. No 
man has a light to grant, or accept such a license. Far less 
would be the evil to grant license for petty larceny, litis 
would make property insecure ; but ihat robs humanity of 
its heaven-born treasures ; yea, it robs man of himself, an«l 
every sacred treasure. AVith tliis fa<;t beftu'e them, as the 
known and legitimate result of licenses, how could the ap- 
pointed guardians of the ])ublic interest, our late Town 
Council, grant five such licenses as a sort of finishing act in 
their public career \ They not only granted licenses, but 
l(?aped over the accustomed order, and forestalled the public 
will, to please the rlevotees of rum. They granted licenses 
for the year over wliicli tlieir successors should have liad the 
prerogative, and for which they should have been responsi- 
ble. But the Council are not alone responsible. The record 
of the Town Clerk shows that the legal notice was given 
after the petitioners ifpjdied for license, and no one appeared 
to protest against the granting of said licenses. Tliis does 
not relieve the Council, for they were the chosen guardians 
of the public interest. The Town Clerk, *and all citizens 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 87 

liaving a knowledge of the application, share in the respon- 
sibility as truly as the Council. In vain can any one think 
to excuse himself with the response of Cain : ^^ Am I my 
brothei*'s keeper ?•' 

Though hand join in hand, God has said : the wicked 
shall not go unpunished. To Him, then, we must commit 
the cause where its issues are beyond our reach. 

Thus partially ferestalled, the friends of temperance 
are admonished to greater vigilence and to an unceasing toil 
till their work is crow-ned with a victory complete and per- 
petual. 

The traffic has fought long and hard, and its throes 
betoken its coming death struggles. The history of the last 
fifty years is full of promise to the men of faith. Every 
apparent defeat has been the prelude to a more exalted vic- 
tory. Dark clouds have lowered only to be followed by 
brighter sunshine. Let none falter, but, let all raise their 
Ebenezer on the Rock of Truth. Yea, let all the men of 
might say : " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." Let the 
l)anner of Hope cheer the struggling Coharts, and long ere 
the bicentennial of our favored land shall be ushered in, 
Rum and its minions will be vanquished foes. 



SUPPLEMENT. 



GENEALOGICAL. 



The following g-eucalogics of faiiiilie?^, soiiio of wlio^e 
branches liave vcsidod in Richmond, may be of interest to 
the present and future generations. They are the result of 
careful research and are believed to be correct : 
BABCOCK. 

The first definite history at hand, of the branch of this 
family that settled in Richmond, was in the person of George 
Babcock, who, in 1709, was one of the recipients of the 
Shannock purchase. His portion took the south end of 
8hannock Hill 5 and, on the west side, extended to the 
Pawcatuck liver. He died May 1st, 1756, in liis eighty- 
third year. His wife, Elizabeth, died ^lay 1st, 1762, aged 
ninety years. 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 89 

Elisha Babcock, son of the above, was born MTty*l87 
1718. Simeon, liis son, was born May 31, 1745, and died 
September 21, 1806. Mary Babcock, liis widow, died in 
Ivichmond, Jnly 20, 1847, aged ninety-seven years. Sim- 
<'on, liis son, lived on the west side of Sliannock bill, 
where he built and operated a tannery, etc. He was drowned 
at the Charlestown ])reach. Members of liis family still 
reside in the vicinity. 

Joseph H. Babcock, of Carolina, and Edmund S. Bab- 
cock, of Wakefield, belong to branches of the same family. 
BARBER. 

Samuel Barber came from England and settled in what 
is now Ilichmond, in about 1714. His son, Caleb Barber, 
was ten years old at that time. He lived where Deacon J. 
(.'. Baker now lives, and died in 1816, aged ninety-two 
years. 

Elder Benjamin Barber, son of Samuel, lived near the 
school-house on TifFt hill. 

^Moses Barber, another son, lived on Bald hill. 

Alanson Barber, of Arcadia, was grandson, and 
Archibald Barber, of Carolina, a son of Caleb -Barber. 
CLARKE. 

The lineage of this family, now so very numerous in 
Richmond and vicinity, can be traced back to 1559, as 
follows : 

AVilliam Clarke, one of the first settlers in what is now 

Kichmond, was the son of Joseph Clarke, who died at 

Westerly, January 11th, 1726, aged eighty-three years. 

This Joseph was the son of Joseph Clarke, who was born 

December 9th, 1618, and died June 1st, 1694. He was 
12 



\H) HLSTORr OF KICHMOXD. 



iiuiiied an assistant in tlie charter of 1663, and was hrother 
to Dr. John Chirke, of Newport, who procured the charter 
tVoiii the Crown. Dr. Clarke was a man of weakh and 
i-enowned for integrity and patriotism. 

The last named, Joseph Clarke, was the son of Thomas 
( 'larke, wdio was born on All Saints' Day, Xovemher, 1570, 
He died Jnly 27, 1627. His father, John Clark<', was born 
February, 1514, and was bnried* April 7, 1598. He was 
tlie son of John Clarke, of whom all that is known is, tliat 
]i<* was bnried March 3d, A. D. 1559. 

We "will now retnrn to the record of AVilliam Clarke. 
He was born in Newport in 1670, and died in Richmond 
Kebruary 28, 1767, aged ninety-seven years. He had four 
brothers, Samuel, Thomas, Joseph and John. His son 
William was born at Newport, in 1702, and died at Rich- 
mond, March 28, 1786. He had five otlier sons : Thomas. 
.Jonathan, Caleb, Robert and Elisha. The sons of the last 
named, William, were : James, William, Gideon, Joshua, 
Peter and Weeden. Gideon was the grandfather of John 
(i. Clarke, of South Kingstown. Jonathan was tlie grand- 
father of Halsey P. Clarke. Weeden lived and died at 
."^hannock hill, in Richmond^ leaving four sons: Weeden. 
Peleg, (Dr.) Pardon and William. 

The children of Jonathan Clarke above named, were : 
Jonathan, Abraham, Josiah, Nathaniel, Tabitha, Sarah, 
Benjamin, Hannah and David. David was born ()ct<dter 
14, 1756, and married Mary Cross. Tlieir children were : 
Sarah, Ann and David. This David Clarke married 
Susannah, dauMiter of Geora'c Perrv, and their onlv living 
.hild is Halsev P. Clarke. 



HISTORY OF RICHMOXI). 



-LILLIBRIDGE. 



Tlioinas Lillibriilgc came from Eng'land aii«l was aWmii- 
tcd a IVeiMiiaii in Xewport. May G, 1701. He piin-lias.-.i 
land ill Westerly, now KMelimond, in 1711, and moved rli.-r.- 
in 17:20. His estate iiielnded the tkrni now own^'d 1>\ 
Wanton f.illibridge, one of Ids descendentsj also the ['aim 
owned by X. Iv. Clnireli, and, perhaps, more l»esides. Ilr 
<lied Ano-iist 29, 1827, leaving a widow ami eleven children. 
His widow, Sarah, died January, 1761. The childivn 
w(Me : Thomas, Robert, Elizabeth, Catharine, Sarah. Mary. 
lOsther, lienjamin, Edward, John and Pjitience. 

Thomas, Jr., died February 8, 17.)7, in Ins tifiy-lifil; 
year, intestate. His children were: Thomas, Edward .-ok I 
Elizal)eth. 

Thomas, under the Eng-lish laws, inherited the fstair. 
Robert had tlie farm nctw owned l)y Wanton Lillibiidi.'*'. 
which lie sold to Edward, brother of Thomas .3d, in wli.. sa- 
line it is now held, l^ranches of this fan)ily settled in. 
Xewport, Sonth Kino-stown and Exeter. 
COLLINS. 

Henry Collins embarked in the ship Abigail, on ili<- 
:}Oth of the 6th month, 1635. In 1639, he was a memlM r 
of the Salem Court. He was a starch mannlacturei- .mi 
Essex street, in Lynn, Mass. He had a grant of eioht\ 
acres of land. His four children, Henry, John, Marv and 
Joseph, were born in Kngland ; the last, the year tliex .-ni- 
barked Ibr America. Tiiis John, and his wife, <lw(dt in 
l>ynn, wliere tliey had eighteen children. The (ddest was 
named John, who, with his father, was drowned. A tn-i 
this, his mother calhMl the youngest John, who lia<l been 



92 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 

named William. I'liis John married Susannah Dagget. 
This Susannah Dagget^ when a small girl, wandered into 
the woods and lost her way. Near ni^ht she was found bv 
the wife of an Indian chief, who took her to her wigwam 
and promised to restore her to her home in the morning. 
She made her a bed of bear skins. At a late hour, the 
chief came home and told his wife that a council of war had 
been held, and a plan was arranged to exterminate the pale 
faces. The wife hushed him, saying there was a little pale- 
face in the wigwam. The chief then said she must die. 
But the squaw said she had pledged her faith, and the child 
must be spared. To this the chief assented, provided it 
appeared that the little pale-face proved to be asleep. So, 
taking a firebrand, he passed it over her head, and finding 
she did not wink, spared her. In the morning, she was con- 
ducted to her home. She gave the alarm, and when the 
Indians came to execute their plan, the}- found the colon- 
ists jn'epared, and their purpose was foiled. The little pale- 
face had done it ! 

John and Susannah had ten children. Their son John 
was born in the town, then called Westerly, the 21st of the 
twelfth month, 1716, old style. He was married to Mehit- 
abel Brown. They had nine children. Amos, their third 
child, was born in 1749, and in 1767 married Thankful 
Clarke. Their children were : Timothy, Abel, Isaac, 
Amos, Susan, Ruth, Hannah and John. This Abel was 
the father of Amos, the ''Rural Bard," recently deceased, 
and of Abel, now residing in North Stonington, Conn., 
Isaac married Mary Collins, his second cousin, daughter of 
Joseph Collins. Their children were : William, Nancy, 



HISTORY OF TvICHMOXD. 93 



Thankful, Amos, Maiy, Isaac, Catliarine, Joseph, Ephraim 
€. Bath«hel)a, John W., Charles W., and Thomas J. 
Isaac, senior, lived in North Stonington till after the birth 
of his son Isaac. He then moved into Richmond and lived 
eighteen years, when he moved into ITopkinton, where he 
ilied. Isaac, Jr., is now the President of the Town Conn- 
<'il of Richmond, living at Usquepaug. 

MOORE. 

John Moore came from England and settled in the 
east part of Richmond. His sons were : David, John and 
George. This David was the father of Silas Moore, 
deceased. David, the son of Silas, now lives wdiere his 
father lived and died. His wife was the granddaughter of 
Joseph James, who came from England in company with 
John Moore. 



--Sj^yj^&^^y^^i-^ 



INDEX. 



_XVO- 



A<lvonlists l!> 

Agricialture ^^ 

Arcadia 57-oS 

Barberous persecution of Quakers — cause of exclusiveness. .14 

Boss meeting house 17 

Brand's iron works, etc ol 

Bribery and corruption 8- i) 

Brothers' Cotton Manufacturing Company ol— 52 

Chaise with leathern thorough-brace springs 25 

Charlestown 7 

Characterii^tics -^ 

Churches, or societies, as perennial organizations 11 

Church at WooJville 18 

Churches, influence of those on the borders of the town 18-19 

Clarke's Mills o6 

Colony at Wickford G 

Constitution — submitted to the people of the States — Jona- 
than Maxson 36 

Country stores 26 

Declaration of Independence, indorsing 32 

Deed W. R. B. church property 12-13 

Destructive gales— 1809— ISlo 73 

DispOf^ition Ol' Lands— "Shannock Purchase ".43-44 

Doctrine of equal rights 9 

Drays, extemporized — carrj'ing liglit burdens on horseback. 2o 
Dressed hog on horseback — three hundred pounds 2o-26 



HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 9/5 



Early Settler?^— i^'^^n^es of heaas of families 37-41 

Education 20 

Education, disadvantages by reason of a lack of .22-2o 

Elliptical steel springs 25 

Enrolled itself as Ricliiuond in King's county, State of R. T.32 

Farming in tlie early days — remarks 28 

First cotton factory "fTT"^. 50-51 

First one-horse wagon 24-25 

First Town Meeting 29 

First wagon — what Mr, Lillibridge says 26 

First house of worship built in toAvn 13 

First tavern 51 

Freedom to worship God 10 

Freeman's oath 8 

Gardner Nichols's father and the two Lockshire plows 25 

Grasshopper seats 25 

Habits — restraints .• 27-28 

Heroic lovers — John Babcock and Mary Lawton G 

Hillsdale 54-55 

Holburton 55-5(i 

How history of the town can be traced 5 

Intelligence and virtue of the individual 22 

Joseph Nichols's grist mill 52-53 

King's county (or province) 7 

Letter to the Town Council 3-4 

Lic_1110r Selling— c^i'inking— effects— remarks 75-87 

Lockshire plow 24 

Lover and his lass — pi] lion 24 

Maiiiifactiii'es 48-58 

Marriage — Job Irish and Mary Weaver 15-17 

Mills and Mill P^ropertj^ 4o_47 

MiscellaneonS— Oltl accounts, etc 70-72 

Misquamicut - 7 

Name propounded to become a freeman 8 

Olueys' factory— J. T. Sheldon 52 

Otlier Enterprises — poultry— cranberries — 

leather — peat and muck — ponds — bogs — daii^y 59-61 

Pastors W. R. B. church 11-12 

Peacedale Manufacturing Company — Carolina Mills Co 53 

Plainville 56-57 



96 HISTORY OF RICHMOND. 



P»OOr 68-69 

Profanity 27 

Quakers 13 

Quo warranto in 1665 6 

Railroads 62 

Religious meetings in private houses 17-18 

Records, church 13 

Rights inherent in the nature of man, etc 26-27 

Richmond set off as a separate town 7-8 

Royal charter o 

Rowse Clarke's wagon shop 26 

Rum 53 

School Superintendent's report 20 

Schools — " My own experience as a teacher " 20-21 

Schools, free 21 

Shannock ; 58 

Statistics— 1774, etc 41-42 

Susannah Barber • • • • 49 

Teriffic snow storm — 1811 73-74 

The Chui'clies n 

Their [x] mark 21-22 

Town Council — must bear their own expenses 30 

Town Clerks, names of 73 

Tug Hollow 55 

Usquepaug 58 

Virgin soil 27 

Wars, earliest 9-10 

War, French and Indian — Manner in which town acted. . . .30-31 

War of the Revolution 32-35 

-^3-pj^_1812— Dorr— Rebellion 63-64 

War, Rebellion, names of volunteers 65-67 

War of Rebellion, town expenditures 64-65 

Westerly, fifth town in the colony — Richmond, etc 7 

Wood River or Six-Principle Baptist church 11 

Woodville 54 

Women's jireparative 14 

SUPPLEMENT. 

Greiiealo<»'ic*al — Babcock — Barber — Clarke — Lilli- 

bridge— Collins— Moore 88-93 



